Ayu is in ‘Deep Trouble: Court restrains him from acting as PDP national chairman

Abuja, NIGERIA — The national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Iyorchia Ayu is tangled in an array of lawsuits.

The mounting legal threats to Ayu may have appeared ominous following the defeat of PDP in the last Presidential election. Though Ayu has been battling fierce opposition from his party’s strongmen, who wanted him to step aside before the election.

Ayu is under pressure to quit, following the protracted crisis that has hit the platform.

But with the latest order of a high court in Benue restraining Iyorchia Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP, some of the political protections that he was enjoying, may have effectively gone.

A high court in Benue state on Monday granted an interim order restraining Ayu.

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.”

Recently, he was suspended by the executive committee of his native Igyorov Ward in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State after a vote of no confidence was passed in him.

Also, the PDP Deputy National Chairman, Ambassador Taofik Arapaja, said Ayu should resign to pave the way for the rebuilding of the party ahead of the 2027 elections.