Onyekachi Eze 
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has overruled its suspended National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, on the suspension of some members of the party. The PDP National Working Committee (NWC) had last week, at a meeting presided over by Ayu, suspended five members of the party, including former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose, his Katsina State counterpart Ibrahim Shehu Shema, and two others, for anti-party activities. The party also referred Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee.
But in a statement after the first NWC meeting, presided over by acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagun, the party reversed the suspensions. The statement, which was signed by the National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba, explained that the reversal was in recognition of “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.” It added that the referral of Governor Ortom to the disciplinary committee was also reversed, as well as the suspension of Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State).
PDP stated that the decision was “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 had on Tuesday, said it accepted the court order banning Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman, and named Damagun as acting National Chairman.