PDP reverses suspension of Anyim, Fayose, Shema, 2 others Quashes referral of Gov Ortom to disciplinary committee Harps on reconciliation

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has reversed the last week’s suspension placed on a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, two former Governors of the party- Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State) and Ibrahim Shema (Katrina State) as well as two others.

The party had similarly rescinded the referral of the Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom to its National Disciplinary Committee.

These decisions were taken yesterday at the National Working Committee, NWC, meeting of the PDP, presided over by its acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum in Abuja.

The NWC of the PDP, under the then Chairmanship of Dr Iyorchia Ayu (who has now been barred by an order of a Benue State High Court, sitting in Makurdi, from parading himself as the party’s National Chairman) had last week suspended Ayu, Fayose, Shema, Professor Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State) over alleged anti-party activities.

The same NWC equally referred Ortom to its National disciplinary committee over similar allegation of anti-party activities.

However, the NWC of the PDP, under the acting National Chairman, Damagum, emphatically stated that it recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of its teeming members and Nigerians in general.

A statement issued at the end of the NWC meeting yesterday and signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Debo Ologunagba, declared that the PDP must remain focused as it continues to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given to it by Nigerians.

The statement by Ologunagba reads, “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting today (yesterday), Thursday, March 30, 2023, extensively discussed recent developments in the Party.

“The NWC recognized the imperativeness of a total reconciliation among Party leaders and critical stakeholders for a more cohesive Party in the overall interest of our teeming members and Nigerians in general.

“Consequent upon the above, the NWC reverses the referral of the Governor of Benue State, His Excellency, Dr. Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee.

“The NWC in the same vein reverses the suspension of the following underlisted members of our great Party:

*H.E Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State)

*Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State)

*Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State)

*Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State)

*Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)

“This decision is without prejudice to the powers of the NWC to take necessary disciplinary action against any member of the Party at any time pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of the PDP (as amended in 2017).

“The NWC charges all leaders, critical stakeholders and teeming members of our Party across the country to be guided by the provisions of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017) as well as the new spirit and necessity of reconciliation, unity and harmony in our Party at this critical time.

“The PDP must remain focused as we continue to take every necessary action to recover the stolen mandate freely given by Nigerians to our Party and Presidential Candidate, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday February 25, 2023, at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal” the statement concluded.

The Leader of Coalition Of Civil Rights Group, Olufemi Akindele Lawson, Member of the Group, Mr Declan Ihaiire, and Inspector General of Police Alkali Baba Usman during presentation of Award to Inspector General of Police for best Outing of Nigeria Police in just concluded 2023 General Election, yesterday in Abuja.