The reinstatement of the suspended National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu, is in jeopardy.

Recall that the party’s National Working Committee asked Ayu to stand down and appointed the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Illiya Damagun, as acting chairman.

Speaking on the matter within the party, a member of the NWC who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity said the party had activated the relevant provisions in its constitution to allow the next-in-line to step in.

He added that the party is waiting to see if Ayu can persuade the court to overturn the ruling prohibiting him from presenting himself as the party’s national chairman.

“The party is moving on,” said the NWC member. While we wait to see if Ayu will seek and obtain a court order to vacate the order against him, we activated the relevant constitutional provisions to allow the next-in-line to step in.

“As most people are unaware, the decision to suspend some of our leaders, including former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim and ex-governors Ayo Fayose and Ibrahim Shema, was a result of Ayu’s veto powers.”

“When he raised the issue of wielding the big stick during that meeting, most of us opposed it because we felt this was a time for healing, and since we are still contesting the Presidential election results in court, it would be better not to start another crisis.” However, our Organizing Secretary and another member encouraged him to continue. Here we are.

“The decision to reverse the suspensions, our first major decision since Damagun took over, is part of our original plan to reach out to all aggrieved members and begin the rebuilding process.”

“We will be in Abuja for Tuesday’s NEC meeting where we expect far-reaching decisions to be taken to reposition our party,” another party leader said on condition of anonymity. We still have off-season elections in Kogi and Bayelsa to deal with, as well as our court case, so we need everyone on board.”