*Withdraws order directing Ortom to appear before disciplinary committee
Chuks Okocha in Abuja
In a reconciliatory move, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led by Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum Thursday reversed the suspension slammed on some members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) as well as directive to appear before a disciplinary committee.
These were the highlights of the decisions taken at its meeting Thursday, as the issues were extensively discussed.
The party had last week suspended the former governors of Katsina state, Ibrahim Shema; former governor of Ekiti state, Ayo Fayose; and directed the Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom, to appear before a disciplinary committee.
A statement issued by National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said 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 the teeming members and Nigerians in general.
As a result, he said, “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:
” Ibrahim Shema (Katsina State), Ayodele Fayose (Ekiti State), Sen. Pius Anyim (Ebonyi State), Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State) and Dr. Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State)”.
Ologunagba said that “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.”
Thursday’s meeting was the first meeting under the leadership of the new acting national chairman, Damagum, who was appointed Tuesday following Benue High Court restraining order on Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman.
