• Ortom’s referral to disciplinary committee
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has reversed the suspension of former secretary to government of the federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim; Ayo Fayose and Ibrahim Shema, former governors of Ekiti and Kastina states respectively.
The party also reversed the suspension of Dennis Ityavyar and Aslam Aliyu of its Benue and Zamfara chapters respectively, as well as the referral of the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, to the national disciplinary committee.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, in a statement, said these were part of decisions reached at a meeting of the party’s national working committee (NWC) meeting, yesterday.
The opposition party’s NWC, under the leadership of the suspended, Iyorchia Ayu, suspended Anyim, Fayose, Shema, Ityavyar and Aliyu for alleged anti-party activities, and referred Ortom to the national disciplinary committee.
In a twist of events, Ayu was suspended from the party by his ward, last Sunday, while a Benue High Court, on Monday, restrained the embattled party leader from parading himself as the national chairman of the opposition party.
Consequently, the PDP NWC, last Tuesday, named the Deputy National Chairman, Umar Damagum, as the acting chairman.
Ologunagba, in his statement, said the reversal of the suspension was informed by the need to ensure total reconciliation in the party.
According to him, “the NWC recognises the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive party in the overall interest of our members and Nigerians in general.
“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of Governor Ortom to the national disciplinary committee.
“The NWC, in the same vein, reverses the suspension of the following under-listed members of our Party: Shema (Katsina State), Fayose (Ekiti State) Anyim (Ebonyi State), Ityavyar (Benue State) and Aliyu (Zamfara State)
“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).
“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and members of our party, across the country, to be guided by the provisions of the PDP constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our party at this critical time.”