Iyorchia Ayu Remains PDP National Chairman – Party

…Dismisses suspension report as fake news

By Simeon OSAJIE

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has reacted to the trending social media reports that its National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has been suspended by the NWC.

In a statement signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Hon. Debo Ologunagba said the National Chairman of the party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu is on a short vacation outside the country and officially transmitted power to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Illya Damagum to perform his duties in acting capacity, pending his return, in line with the provision of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

He said such fictitious report is a product of the mischief makers with the intent to destabilize the party and create an impression of crisis within the ranks and mislead the unsuspecting members of the public.

Parts of the statement reads, “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to a fictitious report being circulated in a section of the social media suggesting that the National Chairman of our great party, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has been suspended by the NWC.

“Such report is completely false and a product of the imagination of mischief makers with the intent to destabilize our party, create an impression of crisis within our ranks and mislead the unsuspecting members of the public.

“It is clear that the false report is the handiwork of vicious anti-people forces that are agitated by the stability, unity and soaring popularity of our party under the cohesive Senator Dr. Ayu-led National Working Committee as well as intimidating statures of our Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates, His Excellency, Atiku Abubakar and His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa respectively.”

Going further, he said, “For clarity, our National Chairman, Se. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu is on a short vacation outside the country and he officially transmitted power to the Deputy National Chairman (North), His Excellency, Ambassador Umar Illya Damagum, to perform his duties in Acting capacity, pending his return, in line with the provision of the Constitution of the PDP 2017 (as amended).

“It is instructive to state that the Independent National Electoral Committee (INEC) was duly informed on the absence of our National Chairman and that Amb. Damagun will be performing the duties of the National Chairman in Acting capacity pending Sen. Dr. Ayu’s return.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP and the NWC is united and Sen. Dr. Iyorchia Ayu remains the National Chairman.

“The NWC therefore urged all members of our great party, our teeming supporters, the media and the general public to disregard the said report as fake news.”