Former Senate Speaker Anyim speaks out on his suspension from the PDP
A former president of the Senate, Pius Anyim, reacted to his suspension from the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday suspended Mr Anyim alongside former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and two other members of the gone.
Others also suspended were Dennis Ityavya from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.
Like other members who were also suspended, the PDP did not point out Mr. Anyim's infractions. But sources within the party said the former Federation government secretary and others were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.
The PDP had also asked Governor Samuel Ortom to appear before the party's disciplinary committee over a similar allegation.
Mr. Former PDP presidential candidate Anyim backed All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru in the March 18 elections against PDP candidate Ifeanyi Odii .
Mr. Nwifuru won the election to become governor-elect of the state.
But reacting in a statement on Friday, Mr Anyim said his suspension by the NWC from the PDP was “disappointing to say the least”.
He stressed that the party should have been concerned about how to undertake a "thorough self-examination of why it performed so poorly in the 2023 election rather than seeking to further divide the party by shifting the blame.
"It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to be bold instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such a colossal loss in the 2023 election, dashing the hopes and expectations of party members and even Nigerians,” he said.
"It is clear that due to the leadership style of the NWC, many members intentionally and proudly worked against the party, including NWC members. Therefore, this is a demonstration of innate cowardice on the part of NWC to pick easy hanging targets and fear those who demonize them daily,” Mr. Anyim added.
READ ALSO: Suspension: Former Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema Ayu writes threatens to quit PDPThe former Senate speaker said it's hard to explain why the NWC was "hurrying to suspend party leaders without a fair trial, without which their action is null and void."< /p> Support for candidate Ebonyi APC
Mr.
He accused the PDP of "imposing" its gubernatorial nominee into the state from outside the area favored by the existing zoning form to produce a governor in the state.
"All efforts to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears. On the day the party's presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told the Dr (Iyorchia) Ayu (the National Chairman of PDP) that I was boycotting the rally because I could not support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State.
"Dr. Ayu didn't do anything. He didn't care even if I didn't attend the Ebonyi rally. The NWC may wish to know that I'm proud to have supported the candidate for office Governor of the APC in Ebonyi State to win the elections as this is in line with the fair formula in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Mr. Anyim said, given his explanation, that he expects the PDP's NWC to "reverse" in the interests of the party.
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A former president of the Senate, Pius Anyim, reacted to his suspension from the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP).
PREMIUM TIMES reported that the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) on Thursday suspended Mr Anyim alongside former Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose and two other members of the gone.
Others also suspended were Dennis Ityavya from Benue State and Aslam Aliyu from Zamfara State.
Like other members who were also suspended, the PDP did not point out Mr. Anyim's infractions. But sources within the party said the former Federation government secretary and others were suspended for alleged anti-party activities.
The PDP had also asked Governor Samuel Ortom to appear before the party's disciplinary committee over a similar allegation.
Mr. Former PDP presidential candidate Anyim backed All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State Francis Nwifuru in the March 18 elections against PDP candidate Ifeanyi Odii .
Mr. Nwifuru won the election to become governor-elect of the state.
But reacting in a statement on Friday, Mr Anyim said his suspension by the NWC from the PDP was “disappointing to say the least”.
He stressed that the party should have been concerned about how to undertake a "thorough self-examination of why it performed so poorly in the 2023 election rather than seeking to further divide the party by shifting the blame.
"It smacks of arrogance for the NWC to be bold instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such a colossal loss in the 2023 election, dashing the hopes and expectations of party members and even Nigerians,” he said.
"It is clear that due to the leadership style of the NWC, many members intentionally and proudly worked against the party, including NWC members. Therefore, this is a demonstration of innate cowardice on the part of NWC to pick easy hanging targets and fear those who demonize them daily,” Mr. Anyim added.
READ ALSO: Suspension: Former Katsina Governor Ibrahim Shema Ayu writes threatens to quit PDPThe former Senate speaker said it's hard to explain why the NWC was "hurrying to suspend party leaders without a fair trial, without which their action is null and void."< /p> Support for candidate Ebonyi APC
Mr.
He accused the PDP of "imposing" its gubernatorial nominee into the state from outside the area favored by the existing zoning form to produce a governor in the state.
"All efforts to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears. On the day the party's presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told the Dr (Iyorchia) Ayu (the National Chairman of PDP) that I was boycotting the rally because I could not support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State.
"Dr. Ayu didn't do anything. He didn't care even if I didn't attend the Ebonyi rally. The NWC may wish to know that I'm proud to have supported the candidate for office Governor of the APC in Ebonyi State to win the elections as this is in line with the fair formula in Ebonyi State,” he said.
Mr. Anyim said, given his explanation, that he expects the PDP's NWC to "reverse" in the interests of the party.
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