All is now set for the election/appointment of a National Chairman for People’s Democratic Party PDP inview of the latest development and action by Former Chairman of the Party Iyorchia Ayu who today in a great show of Party patriotism and commitment withdrew all his pending Appeals at the Court of Appeal where He was challenging the Party for removing him from office.
In a notice of withdrawal of appeal tagged CA/MK/88/2024 SUIT NO: MHC/85/2023 dated April 15, made available to journalists, the Court of Appeal of Nigeria in Makurdi, Benue State capital, revealed that Ayu has withdrawn the appeal against the respondents filed on the 27th day of June 2023 via Notice of Appeal dated the 26th day of June 2023.
The lawsuit which was between Ayu (Appellant) and Engr. Terhide Utaan and the PDP as the respondent, 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.”
Reacting to the news, the G60 People Democratic Party lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly commended Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, for withdrawing a lawsuit, noting that the action that made the Acting Chairman, Umar Damagun refuse to step down until the withdrawal of all cases pave way for him to hand over to North Central.
According to the G60 PDP FEDERAL lawmakers led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Ideato Rep, Ayus Action has removed the last bottleneck and excuse been given by Damagun to hang on to power and opened the express way without any excuse for Damagun to revert back to his position as Deputy Chairman.
The lawmakers who have been clamouring for reform of the party including the resignation of the acting chairman, Umar Damagun, stated that with this withdrawal, PDP NEC will proceed with the election of North Central candidate as National Chairman, during their NEC meeting tomorrow.
They insisted that despite the plot of rogues in the party working for the All Progressive Congress, APC, the stepdown of Damagun is irreversible.
Ugochinyere also presented the legal backing for the PDP NEC to proceed with the election of a North Central Candidate as National Chairman of the PDP in view of Ayu’s withdrawal of case against PDP in line with Article 47 (6) of the PDP Constitution.
- Article 47 (6) of pdp constitution states that once a vacancy occurs in any office of the party especially National Chairman Office,the NEC shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated to serve out the tenure of the officer.
- Article 47(1) says that the tenure of office of the chairmanship zoned to north central is 4 years, so any continued hold of the office continues to exclude the north central from completing its 4 year zoned tenure as backed up by 47(6) which says another person from north central must be appointed to continue that tenure.
So Damaguns continued stay in office is unknown to the party’s constitution. - Article 35(3)(d) The powers of the deputy chairman to act is limited by this section as he supposed to be in office to give effect to article 47(6) which requires him to act and call for nec to appoint an acting chairman. Ugochinyere said.