A high court in Benue state 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 filed by Conrad Terhide Utaan.

“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 judge ruled.

“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.”

The case has been adjourned to April 17 for a hearing.

On Sunday, the executive members of Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of Benue state, suspended Ayu over alleged anti-party activities.

Simon Imobo-Tswam, media adviser to Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), says his principal cannot be suspended by his ward.

Executuve members of Igyorov ward, Gboko LGA of Benue state, had on Sunday passed a vote of no confidence on Ayu over alleged anti-party activities.

The party executives claimed that Ayu worked against the success of the PDP in his ward and did not vote in the March 18 governorship and the house of assembly election.

In a statement issued on Monday, Imobo-Tswam said only the national executive committee (NEC), which is the highest decision-making organ of the party, can suspend a national chairman.

Citing section 57(7) of the PDP constitution, Imobo-Tswam said any organ other than the NEC is prohibited from disciplining the national chairman.

He said Ayu’s ”purported suspension” is an “exercise in futility” and should be disregarded.

“Iyorchia Ayu has not been suspended by his ward. Some members of the exco are only being teleguided by political gamblers to cause mischief and nothing more,” the statement reads.

Imobo-Tswam alleged that those whose names appeared on the suspension letter either had their signatures forged or were “coerced” to sign.

“The chairman, his deputy, and legal adviser didn’t sign. The 14th person on the list didn’t sign too. She was at NKST Ambighir for the Holy Communion,” he said.

“Up till now, about nine members of the ward exco are still being held hostage in a location in Makurdi for obvious reasons. And expectedly, their mobile numbers have been switched off. It is instructive.

“The general public is hereby advised to ignore rumours to this heinous effect. Those behind the plot are only investing in expensive illusions.”

Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike has stated that he supports the suspension of Iyorchia Ayu, national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The  PDP in Benue state suspended Ayu over alleged anti-party activities.

In a television interview on Monday, Wike said he aligns with the suspension because Ayu contributed to the “failure” of the PDP during polls.

“I am in support of the suspension. In fact, if he (Ayu) had left before now, they would have said that was why the PDP failed the election,” Wike said.

“First of all, if you are a member of the party, will you be happy with the way the party is today? It is only in this country that you see someone who has failed woefully and without any conscience would still like to occupy the position.”

Wike said in advanced countries, leaders of political parties don’t need to be told to “turn in the towel” when they fail.

“Before now, Ayu ought to have left that office. People were saying we were pushing for Ayu to leave and that we had a hidden agenda to make PDP fail,” he said.

“Ayu remained and PDP didn’t win. You lost your unit as national chairman, you lost your ward as national chairman, you lost your local government as national chairman of the party. Not only did you(Ayu’s state) take a distant third in the presidential election, you also lost in the state gubernatorial election.”

Wike has been at loggerheads with Ayu since the presidential primary election of the PDP.