A high court in Benue state on Monday has granted an interim order restraining Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
W.I Kpochi, the presiding judge, gave the order on Monday, while ruling on a motion ex parte marked MHC/633/2023, and filed by Conrad Terhide Utaan.
The judge in its ruling said: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant Senator Dr. lyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) having lost membership of the party, pending the hearing and determination of Motion on Notice already filed.”
“The application is supported by a fifteen (15) paragraph affidavit to which is annexed three exhibits as Exhibits A1, A2, and B which are the Applicant’s membership card of the 2nd defendant, receipts for payment of dues and a vote of no confidence passed on the 1st Defendant/Respondent by the Igyorov
Council Ward of the 2nd Defendant in Gboko Local Government, Benue State.
“Upon hearing Mr M. T Assoh of Learned Counsel ably move the application and upon a dispassionate consideration of the facts placed before me in the pool of the affidavit evidence, and again, upon the consideration of the issues distilled in the written address by M.T Assoh of Learned Counsel, it is my candid view that this is a proper case to grant the interim injunction as craved.”
“Consequently, this application is hereby granted in terms of the reliefs captured in the motion papers as herein before reproduced. It is so ordered.”
Following the order, the case was adjourned till 17th of April, 2023 by the judge for further hearing.
Recall that the Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State had announced the immediate suspension of the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu.
The ward Exco suspended Ayu for anti-party activities after passing vote of no confidence on him.
Ayu is also accused of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution. Twelve out of the seventeen Exco members signed the documents to endorse his suspension.
The Exco also alleged that the PDP National Chairman did not vote during the
governorship and state assembly elections held on 18th of March, 2023.
According to them, most of Ayu’s closest allies worked for the opposition party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward.
