The door may have been permanently shut on the return of Prof Iyorchia Ayu to his seat as PDP Chairman as a Benue High Court on Friday affirmed his suspension and removed him as a member of the party stating: “His membership elapsed with his failure to pay his membership dues”

Justice Maurice Ikpambese, gave the judgement in Makurdi after observing that Ayu did not contest the allegation that he did not pay his dues up to date and therefore, affirmed his suspension from the (PDP), and his eventual removal as the party’s National Chairman.

The judge said Ayu’s membership of the PDP elapsed with his failure to pay his membership and subscription dues. It would be recalled that on March 27, 2023, Justice W. I Kpochi, had issued an interim injunction restraining Ayu from parading himself as the national chair of the PDP.

This followed the granting of an ex parte application by a member of the party in Benue State, Terhide Utaan.

Delivering judgement in the suit, Justice Ikpambese, who is also the Chief Judge of Benue State said, “The first defendant’s (Ayu) membership of the second defendant (PDP) elapsed with his failure to pay his membership and subscription fee.

“The First defendant (Ayu) did not contest his suspension by the Igyorov Ward Executive, neither did he initiate any suit challenging his suspension. He has left the court with no option than to believe that he has consented to his suspension”.

The Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State has suspended the National Chairman of the party, Iyorchia Ayu The ward accused Ayu of anti-party activities after which they passed a vote of no confidence on him.

While reading their resolution at the time, the secretary of the party in Igyorov ward, Vanger Dooyum, said Ayu’s anti-party activities – alongside his allies – contributed to PDP’s loss in his ward and local government in the governorship election.

They also alleged that the PDP chieftain did not vote during the governorship and state assembly elections held on the 18th of March, 2023. Ayu is also accused of not paying his annual dues as enshrined by the party’s constitution. Twelve out of the seventeen exco members signed the documents endorsing his suspension.

According to them, most of Ayu’s closest allies worked for the opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) which resulted in the abysmal performance of the PDP in Igyorov Ward. Twelve out of the seventeen exco members signed the documents endorsing his suspension.

Prof Ayu’s problem in the PDP started shortly after the PDP presidential primaries when he was alleged to have taken side with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar because Ayu called Gov Aminu Tambuwal the hero of the presidential primaries for stepping down for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who won the contest.

This led to the formation of the G-5 governors led by Governor Nyesom Wike. Other members were Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu),

Governor Wike said his group was fighting against the presidential candidate of the party coming from the North and same zone with the Party Chairman. He turned the heat on Ayu and levelled several allegations of corruption against him until he was suspended by his ward executives. This would ordinarily not have been possible without Governor Ortom approving of it as the leader of the party in the state.

The groups’ differences became unresolvable and the PDP became worse off in the elections. The party’s presidential candidate came second, while three members of the G-5 governors’ group also lost their election to the Senate.

Ever since hiss suspension, it would appear Senator Ayu had given up on fighting to return to the seat, hence the observation by the Court that he never contested his suspension in the court.