BENUE, NIGERIA – The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State, home state of National Chairman Iyorchia Ayu, has denied the validity of a letter of suspension dated Monday, March 27, 2023. The party claims that the letter contained forged signatures of its executive members.
In a letter addressed to the PDP Chairman in Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State, with a copy sent to journalists in Abuja, the executive members of Igyorov Ward in Benue State clarified that they had never endorsed Ayu’s suspension for any reason. The letter called the suspension a “height of mischief,” asserting that it was not in line with due process and that proper consultation according to the party’s constitution was not observed.
The executive members urged PDP supporters and members to disregard the suspension, emphasizing that their signatures were forged for malicious purposes. The letter, signed by Ward Deputy Chairman Ortese Helen and 15 others, expressed surprise at the development, which was never considered before or after the election.
The letter states: “The purported signatures on the letter are forged and no member of PDP Executive Committee of Igyorov Council Ward have signed that letter nor caused to be signed on his or her behalf. The names of the Executive Committee Members are wrongly written and spelled which show the desperation of the mischief makers. The content of the purported letter itself is contradictory on the holding of the presidential and National Assembly Elections on March 25, 2023, while the letter itself is dated 24th March, 2023.”
The executives went on to emphasize that they had no knowledge of the letter and had not authorized anyone to issue it on their behalf. They reaffirmed their faith in Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s leadership as the National Chairman of the PDP.
Citing Article 57(7) of the PDP Constitution, the executive members maintained that they lack the power to suspend a national chairman and subsequently passed a vote of confidence on Ayu.
