Charles Aniagwu, the spokesperson for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), says the purported suspension of the party’s national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu is illegal.

Mr Aniagwu said this in a statement on Tuesday in Asaba, saying those behind the suspension were ignorant of the provisions of the party’s constitution.

He said section 57(7) of the PDP Constitution was clear on who had the power to suspend or discipline a member of the National Working Committee or National Executive Committee of the party.

“When they proceeded to ask the ward of the national chairman to take disciplinary action against him, assuming that they had the power, they ought to have given him a fair hearing by summoning him to give him the opportunity to defend himself,” Mr Aniagwu stated.

He added, “But section 57 did not give them the power to carry out such action against a member of NWC. So, if anyone is proceeding to court with such an illegal suspension, he is just making unnecessary trouble for the party.”

The spokesperson said the ex parte order from the court restraining Mr Ayu from carrying out his duties as national chairman was most unfortunate as the basis for granting the said order was faulty.

However, he expressed optimism that the party would emerge stronger from its current travails.

On Monday, the Benue State High Court granted an ex parte application seeking an interim injunction to restrain Mr Ayu from parading himself as the party’s national chairman.

(NAN)