- “Atiku Side Has Thrown Wike Under the Box By Having Ayu on its Side”, Insider Source
By Abiola Olawale
The huge power play in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a massive turn as the suspended National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu, has withdrawn a lawsuit challenging his removal from office.
This was contained in a notice of withdrawal of appeal tagged CA/MK/88/2024 SUIT NO: MHC/85/2023 dated April 15, made available on Wednesday.
In the notice, the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Makurdi, Benue State capital, confirmed that Ayu has withdrawn the appeal against the respondents filed on the 27th day of June 2023 via Notice of Appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023.
It would be recalled that the appeal lawsuit was between Ayu (Appellant) and Engr. Terhide Utaan and the PDP as the respondents.
It read in part: “Take notice that the appellant herein intends and doth hereby wholly withdraw the appeal against the respondents filed on the 27th day of June 2023 vide Notice of Appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023.”
An insider source who spoke with the New Diplomat on the condition of anonymity said this latest development is expected to pave the way for the emergence of a substantive National Chairman of the PDP.
The source said the lawsuit is believed to have impeded the PDP from having a substantive National Chairman since 2023 when a High Court sitting in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, stopped Ayu from parading himself as the party’s leader.
The source added that some members of the party believed to be the loyalists of the Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, have been holding onto the appeal lawsuit initiated by Ayu as a tool to let the acting National Chairman Umar Damagum remain in office.
It would be recalled that members of the party have been divided between those advocating for Damagun’s support and those opposing his continued tenure.
The development has since been causing rancor within the fold of the PDP, as the members calling for the removal of Damagun are reportedly supporting the presidential candidate of PDP in the last general elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and those calling for the continued stay of acting National Chairman are in support of Wike.
It would be recalled also that about 60 members of the House of Representatives, demanded Damagum’s departure, advocating for the appointment of a substantive chairman from the North Central region.
However, shortly after this announcement, the House minority caucus, under the leadership of Hon. Kingsley Chinda, disassociated from the group, labeling it an unrecognized entity within the parliament.
With the latest development, the insider source said with the withdrawal of Ayu’s lawsuit, the fold of Atiku is expected to emerge as the winner of the power play as it will pave the way for former Benue State Governor, Gabriel Suswam, who has been tipped by some power blocs within the party to emerge as the National Chairman.
