The post‑election crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a new turn on Monday when a Benue State High Court in Makurdi issued an injunction restraining Senator Iyorchia Ayu from presenting himself as the party’s national chairman. The order revived hostilities between a faction supporting the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and five governors who refused to campaign for him during the 2023 election. The ruling came just 24 hours after the executive of Ayu’s Igyorov Ward in Gboko Local Government Area suspended the PDP chairman for alleged anti‑party activities.
Ayu’s suspension followed a broader crackdown by the National Working Committee, which had earlier suspended former governors Ayo Fayose (Ekiti), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Chimaroke Nnamani (Enugu), former Senate President Anyim Pius, and others for similar offences. The party also referred Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom to its disciplinary committee. Ortom belongs to the “G‑5” governors—Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu)—who are demanding Ayu’s removal, alleging that the party’s leadership is skewed in favour of the North.
The suspension was announced on Sunday by Ward Secretary Vangeryina Dooyum, speaking for Ward Chairman Kashi Philip. Dooyum read a statement signed by 12 of the 17 ward executive members, citing Ayu’s failure to pay his annual subscription under Section 8(9) of the PDP Constitution (2017, as amended), his non‑participation in the March 18, 2023 governorship and state assembly elections, and the fact that many of his close allies were working for the opposition All Progressives Congress. “Because of the foregoing, we hereby pass a vote of no confidence in Dr Iyorchia Ayu and suspend him as a member of our party with immediate effect, effective from March 24, 2023,” the statement read.
Ayu responded on Monday, arguing that the PDP constitution expressly forbids any party organ—whether at the ward, state or national level—from disciplining a member of the National Executive Committee; only the NEC can suspend him. His Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Simon Imobo‑Tswam, denounced the suspension as “mischief, drama and propaganda,” calling the letter “ill‑written” and signed under duress in Makurdi.
The crisis began after Atiku Abubakar won the PDP presidential primary. The G‑5 and the party’s Southern bloc demanded Ayu’s removal, claiming the leadership favoured the North. Despite several reconciliation meetings in Port Harcourt, Abuja and London, the dispute persisted, and the dissenting governors refused to support Atiku’s campaign. Atiku subsequently lost the February 25 presidential election to APC candidate Bola Tinubu.
In the latest development, Justice Wilfred Kpochi of the Benue High Court granted an interim injunction preventing Ayu from acting as PDP chairman pending a substantive hearing. The order, issued in suit No. MHC/85/2023 filed by former Benue governor’s aide Conrad Utaan, bars Ayu from “parading himself as the National Chairman” while the case proceeds. The plaintiff’s affidavit, supported by a membership card, dues receipts and the ward’s vote of no confidence, persuaded the judge to grant the relief. The matter was adjourned to April 17 for a full hearing.
Utaan explained his legal action, citing the party’s poor performance in Benue. He said he expected Ayu to step aside after the electoral defeat, but Ayu refused, prompting the court petition. “We cannot have a national chairman who is not a party member,” Utaan told journalists at the Makurdi Government House.
The PDP’s National Working Committee said it would consider the court order before responding. National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba told reporters that the party would react appropriately once the details of the injunction were known. PDP Presidential Campaign Council spokesman Charles Aniagwu called the court order “unfortunate” and blamed Governor Wike for the Benue crisis, accusing him of undermining the party for personal gain.
Deputy National Youth Leader Timothy Osadolor argued that, under the PDP Constitution, only a committee appointed by the NEC can sanction a national officer, rendering any state‑level suspension “null and void ab initio.” He warned that a court order based on an invalid suspension would be improper.
Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, a member of the G‑5, declared that the fight against Ayu had only begun. Speaking at the inauguration of a remodeled community secondary school, Wike said it was “unthinkable” for an official who failed to deliver electoral victories to continue leading the party. He warned that those supporting Ayu were “doing so to their detriment” and hinted that the suspension was a necessary step to save the PDP.
Rivers PDP Director of Campaigns and Publicity Chief Ogbonna Nwuke described Ayu’s suspension as “nemesis” arriving “a bit too late,” but welcomed the court’s reinforcement of the decision. He likened Ayu’s fate to the “Oshiomhole treatment,” suggesting that the court had forced Ayu out rather than allowing him to linger in litigation.
Former Deputy National Chairman Chief Olabode George warned that Ayu was treating the party like a private company, suspending members arbitrarily. He recalled a personal meeting with Ayu, urging him not to “start what you can’t finish,” and cautioned that internal divisions would lead to defeat. George called for patience while the courts resolve the February 25 election dispute, after which a thorough post‑mortem should determine accountability.
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