The Benue State High Court sitting in Makurdi, the state capital, has upheld the suspension of the former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
The Star recalls that the PDP Executive Committee in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, in March 2023, suspended Ayu for alleged anti-party activities.
The committee said the former Senate President’s anti-party activities, alongside his allies, contributed to the party’s loss in his ward and local government in the March 18 governorship election in the state.
They also accused Ayu of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution, noting that most of his closest allies worked for the All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
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A member of the PDP in Benue State, Comrade Terhide Utaan, later dragged Ayu to court following his suspension by his Igyorov ward executive committee.
In suit No: MHC/85/2023, Utaan sought among other reliefs a declaration that Ayu is no longer fit and qualified to hold office as the national chairman of the PDP, having lost membership of the party in his Igyorov council ward of Gboko, where he first registered as a member of the party.
Delivering judgement on Friday, June 2, the presiding judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, declared that by virtue of Article 8(9) of the constitution of the PDP, Ayu seized to be a member of the party with his failure to pay his subscription and membership fee.
Justice Ikpambese, who is the Chief Judge of Benue State, ruled that Ayu’s membership of the PDP elapsed with his failure to pay his membership subscription fee.
On the claim that the ward executive committee of the party cannot discipline a member of the National Executive Committee, the judge held the ward executive of the PDP has the power to discipline a member of the party’s NEC.
He stated that Ayu failed to show proof that he has paid his membership subscription fee or challenged his suspension before any organ of the party or before any court.
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