Ayu not suspended as PDP chair, says aide

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Wednesday said that Sen. Iyorchia Ayu remained its National Chairman.

The Senior Adviser to the National Chairman on Communication and Strategy, Simon Imobo-Tswam, reiterated this in a statement he issued in Abuja.

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Imobo-Tswam advised the public to ignore the social media publications alleging the suspension of Ayu, describing it as the work of mischief-makers and idle minds.

“Earlier today, mischievous stories broke on the social media to the effect that Ayu has been ‘suspended over allegations of misappropriation.

“The stories further add that the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Damagun, has been appointed in his place in an acting capacity.

“This is supposed to have followed a phantom emergency meeting of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC),” he said.

Imobo-Tswam said even though the party did not wish to dignify falsehood with a response, an official reaction was necessary in order to stem the tide of misinformation.

He said Ayu took “a well-deserved“ two-week leave on June 12, nothing that he would be back on July 6 to resume duties.

Imobo-Tswam said that as a stickler for due process, Ayu formally handed over to the Deputy National Chairman (North), Damagun, which had held forth admirably since that day.

“It was in that acting capacity that he (Damagun) today, presided over the inauguration of the Osun State Gubernatorial Campaign Council, headed by the Governor of Bayelsa, Douye Diri,” he said. (NAN)