The process of recrimination over the Presidential, State and other elections has been set in motion in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
It has sacked its Katsina State Executive Committee, appointing a caretaker one; directed the Benue State governor, Mr. Samuel Ortom, to its disciplinary committee, and suspended former Ekiti State governor, Ayo Fayose, and others.
Swiftly, also, internal opposition to the moves have arisen within the party from those considered renegade members.
Governor Samuel Ortom says the National Working Commitee of the party is acting in contempt of a subsisting court order by referring him to the disciplinary commitee of the party for alleged anti party activities.
He spoke as Rivers State governor, and prime mover of the Group of five PDP governors (G5), Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, said Ortom will not appear before National Disciplinary Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over his alleged involvement in anti-party activities.
Wike also described the suspension of former Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose and others for anti-party activities by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP as a nullity.
Governor Ortom said it is contemptous of the leadership of the PDP to disregard the court order which barred the party or any organ of the party from issuing any disciplinary measure against him.
According to the Governor in a statement from his office, “the case is pending in court and there is an order of injunction restraining any organ of the party from carrying out any disciplinary action against the governor. This Case is adjourned to 18th April 2023 and so it is baffling to see such a statement coming from the national leadership of the party.
“I think the national leadership of our great party is losing its sense of direction. Instead of the leadership to sit back and think of ways… to rebuild the party from the ruins of the defeat from the just concluded elections, they are going about chasing imaginary shadows.
“In any case, the first person the party should refer to the disciplinary committee should be the national chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu. The national chairman lost his polling unit, lost his ward, local government, and even the state.
“As if that is not enough, there are strong indications that the national chairman was involved in anti-party activities in Benue State by working for the opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, just to get at me because of my principled stand against certain aspects of the decisions of the national leadership of the party.”
The Governor says the party should allow itself to be ridiculed by some individuals who are bent on destroying the party for their selfish gains.
In his own comments in Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday while reacting to NWC decision to refer governor Ortom to the party’s disciplinary committee and suspension of Fayoye and others, Wike said, “I want to state clearly and let members of the party and Nigerians hear it clearly, the National Working Committee made up of Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who they say is the chairman of the party; Sam Anyanwu, the national secretary and other members of NWC, cannot suspend Ayo Fayose, not to talk about referring governor Ortom to national disciplinary committee.”
He explained that the decision of the NWC to refer governor Ortom to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee is the height of all insult.
“Referring a governor to your so-called national disciplinary committee is the height of all insult, and we will not take it. Therefore, be ready for whatever you see as far as this our party is concerned.
“Governor Ortom, who has stood firm for the unity of this country, Governor Ortom who has come out openly to say that Nigeria must be one is not the type you will say you’ll refer to that your kangaroo committee.”
The Rivers State governor said if anyone deserves to be suspended from the party, that person is Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who he accused of contravening the PDP constitution on the zoning of elective and appointive offices.
“If there is any person deserving suspension it should be you (Ayu), who played anti-party by refusing to obey the constitution of the party on zoning of political offices as is required. So, whoever tells you can suspend people, please tell the person that he is not serious.”
He further added, “if you are talking of anti-party it is you who could not even deliver your unit, deliver your ward that is involved. Because of the fraudulent activities you are involved in, people have lost hope in you. That is why you cannot win your unit, win your ward.”
Governor Wike cautioned Ayu and the NWC to desist from threatening the G-5 governors and members of the Integrity Group with suspension. According to him, Ayu has by his recent action opened up a new chapter of political war in the party.
“You cannot cage any of us. Ortom will not appear before any of your so called disciplinary committee. Ayodele Fayose will also never appear before any disciplinary committee.”