Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, expressed his satisfaction over the removal of Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Umar Damagum was announced as Ayu’s replacement in an acting capacity on Tuesday, following Ayu’s suspension by the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State.
Ayu had been involved in a bitter hostility with some high-ranking PDP members led by five governors identified as the G5, which included Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
The G5 refused to join the party’s campaign for the 2022 presidential election unless Ayu resigned.
This culminated in the party’s defeat at the election on February 25.
Governor Wike expressed his joy over the removal of Ayu as PDP National Chairman while commissioning the Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1, Degema LGA in Rivers State on Tuesday.
He stated, “You see how God works? All those people who were plotting evil against us, they are now the ones suffering it.”
He also warned those excited about the emergence of a new governor in Rivers State that he is still in charge until May 29, stating, “So, if you do anything, I’ll pepper you.
You see how I peppered them now?
“Are they not the ones suffering it now? Ayu said nobody can suspend him, but today he has packed up from the office.”
Wike continued by informing Damagum that he would also be removed, stating, “We have an acting chairman now. I told him, ‘You will go.”
“Whether you like it or not, you will go. Those lawyers telling you that the ward has no power to suspend you, that it’s only NEC, then you don’t understand.”
The governor added that it was the ward that suspended Secondus and that Ayu had taken office despite the suspension, but now that he is suspended, he is claiming that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) has the power to suspend him.
However, Wike explained that the courts have struck off that section from the PDP’s constitution, which stated that only NEC has the power to suspend members.
