Former Senate President, Pius Anyim, has reacted to the suspension of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
PREMIUM TIMES reports that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, on Thursday, suspended Mr. Anyim together with the former governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, and two others from the party.
Others also suspended are Dennis Ityavya from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.
Like other members who were also suspended, the PDP did not allege any wrongdoing by Mr. Anyim. But sources in the party said the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and others were suspended due to anti-party activities.
The PDP also asked Governor Samuel Ortom to appear before the party’s disciplinary committee over the same allegations.
Mr. Anyim, a former presidential candidate in the PDP, supported the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, in the March 18 election against the PDP candidate, Ifeanyi Odii.
Mr. Nwifuru won the election as governor-elect in the state.
But reacting to the statement on Friday, Mr. Anyim, said the suspension by the NWC of the PDP was “to say the least, disappointing.”
He emphasized that the party should be concerned about how to do a “full self-examination of why they did so badly in the 2023 elections instead of trying to divide the party by changing the blame.”
“It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to make a bold face instead of showing regret and being sober to lead the party to a colossal loss like in the 2023 election, thereby dashing the hopes and expectations of party members and indeed Nigerians,” he said. stated.
“It is clear that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many members, knowingly and proudly, are working against the party including the NWC members. Therefore, it is a cowardly display for the NWC to choose soft targets to delay and fear those who are destroying them every day him,” added Mr. Anyim.
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The former senate president said it was difficult to explain why the NWC “hastily suspended the party leaders without asking for a fair hearing, without which the action is null and void.”
Support for Ebonyi APC candidates
Mr. Anyim defended his support for the APC governorship candidate of Ebonyi State, Mr. Nwifuru, explaining that his decision was due to the “existing form” in the state.
He accused the PDP of “asserting” governorship candidates in the state from outside the zone favored by the existing zoning formula to produce governors in the state.
“All efforts to get the NWC to see reason fell on deaf ears. On the day the party’s presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told Dr. (Iyorchia) Ayu (PDP national chairman) that I am boycotting the meeting because I cannot support the candidates running in Ebonyi State.
“Dr. Ayu did nothing. He did not care even if I did not attend the Ebonyi rally. The NWC may want to know that I am proud to have supported the APC governorship candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election because it fits the fair formula in Ebonyi State ,” he said.
Mr. Anyim said, given the explanation, he expected the NWC from the PDP to “reverse itself” for the party’s benefit.
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