The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) announced on Thursday the suspension of former Ekiti State governor Ayodele Fayose, former Senate president Pius Anyim, Professor Dennis Ityavyar, and Aslam Aliyu. The suspension took effect immediately, following an extensive review of party affairs in accordance with the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017). In the same statement, signed by National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, the party also referred Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee over alleged anti‑party activities. The PDP urged all leaders, stakeholders, and members nationwide to remain united and focused during this critical period.
Fayose, through his media aide Lere Olayinka, condemned the suspension imposed by the Senator Iyorchia Ayu‑led National Working Committee, calling it “the last kick of a dead horse.” In a statement titled “My suspension is Ayu’s last kick of a dead horse – Fayose,” he dismissed the action as a “comedy skit” by Ayu and his cohorts, asserting that those who remained loyal to the party would eventually revive it. Fayose had earlier criticized the PDP and Ayu after the party’s presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, lost the February 25 election, accusing Ayu of leading Atiku to defeat. He also questioned a video of a civil‑society protest in Abuja, suggesting the participants were actually PDP members.
Governor Ortom responded by accusing the PDP National Working Committee of contempt for referring him to the disciplinary committee despite a standing court order that bars the party from taking disciplinary action against him. His Chief Press Secretary, Nathaniel Ikyur, issued a statement on Thursday, claiming the party’s national leadership had lost its sense of direction. Ikyur argued that, instead of focusing on rebuilding the party after its electoral loss, the leadership was “chasing imaginary shadows.” He further suggested that the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee is the national chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who, according to Ikyur, has lost his own polling unit, ward, local government, and state.
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