The ripples generated by the suspension of prominent members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) continues with former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, stating he was proud backing the gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who won the election in his state.
Anyim’s words: “It is difficult to explain why the NWC (National Working Committee of the PDP) is in a hurry to suspend leaders of the party without recourse to fair hearing, without which their action is null and void.
“In the case of Ebonyi State, the NWC imposed a candidate from the sitting Governor’s zone, contrary to the zoning formular in the state. Every effort to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears. On the day the party’s presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told Dr. Ayu that I was boycotting the rally because I cannot support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State. Dr. Ayu did nothing. He did not care even as I did not attend the Ebonyi rally. The NWC may wish to know that I am proud to have supported the APC Gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election because that conforms to the equitable formular in Ebonyi State. It is therefore my expectation that the NWC should reverse itself in the interest of the party.”
The Ebonyi politician also observed that the action of the NWC was disappointing, noting that he thought the concern of the NWC would be how to undertake a thorough self-examination on why the party performed so poorly in the 2023 elections rather than seek to further divide the party by shifting blames.
He adds, “It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to put up a bold face instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such colossal loss in the 2023 general elections, thereby dashing the hopes and expectations of party members and indeed Nigerians.
“It is clear that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many members, intentionally and proudly, worked against the party including members of the NWC. Therefore, it is a display of innate cowardice for NWC to choose soft targets to suspend and fear those that daily demonize them.”
Recall that as part of recriminatory actions as a fall out of the last elections, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Debo Ologunagba, announced on Thursday that the
NWC had after very extensive review of the affairs and pursuant to the party’s constitution referred the Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.
The party also approved the suspension of former governors Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina). Others were Anyim, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).
The party urged all leaders, critical stakeholders, and members to remain united and focused at this critical time.
Ortom, in his reaction, accused the party of contempt of court, while Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, took the party leadership to the cleaners.
