The National Working Committee, NWC, of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has named Iliya Umar Damagum as the acting national chairman of the party.
He replaces Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, at a press conference held at its secretariat in Abuja.
Before he was appointed to replace Ayu, Damagum was the party’s National Deputy Chairman (North).
Damagun’s appointment followed an interim injunction of a Makurdi High Court on Monday restraining Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of the PDP.
Ayu was dragged before the court by Mr Conrad Utaan, chairman of his Igyorov Ward of the party in Gboko local government area of Benue State.
PDP was also joined in the matter.
The ward officials are accusing Ayu of anti-party activities.
Utaan principally sought an order of interim injunction restraining Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP having lost membership of the party after the ward suspended him.
They want him to stay away from the party pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice already filed.
The application was supported by a 15-paragraphs affidavit to which was annexed three exhibits marked as Exhibits A1, A2 and B.
Among the exhibits are the applicant’s PDP membership card, receipts for payment of dues and a vote of no confidence passed on Ayu by the executive council members of Igyorov Ward of PDP in Gboko local government, Benue.
In a written address before the court, counsel for the applicant, Mr Mike Assoh, asked the court to restrain Ayu from parading himself as the national chairman of PDP pending the hearing and determination of the motion seeking his suspension.
Ruling, the presiding judge, Justice W.I. Kpochi, held that considering the pool of affidavits before the court and the issues distilled in the written address by the applicant’s counsel, it was proper to grant the interim injunction as craved.
The case was adjourned to April 17, 2023 for hearing.
