Former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim, has expressed disappointment over the purported suspension slammed on him by the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing it as a.display of innate cowardice by the party leadership.
In a statement issued on Friday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital and made available to newsmen, the ex-Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), observed that the NWC would have undertaken a thorough self examination rather than creating further division within the party.
The Statement by Senator Anyim Pius Anyim reads in parts:,”The action of the NWC is, to say the least, disappointing, I thought the concern of the National Working Committee now, would be how to undertake a thorough self-examination on why they performed so poorly in the 2023 elections, rather than seek to further divide the party by shifting blames.
“It smacks of arrogance for the National Working Committee (NWC), to put up a bold face instead of showing remorse and being sober for leading the party to such colossal loss in the 2023 general elections.
“The NWC thereby dashed the hopes and expectations of party members and indeed Nigerians.
“It is clear that arising from the leadership style of the NWC, many members, intentionally and proudly, worked against the party including members of the NWC”.
The Statement added, “it is a display of innate cowardice for the NWC, to choose soft targets to suspend and fear those that daily demonize them.
“It is difficult to explain why the NWC, is in a hurry to suspend leaders of the party without recourse to fair hearing, without which their action is null and void”
It further noted that in the case of Ebonyi State, the NWC imposed a candidate from the sitting Governor’s zone, contrary to the zoning formular in the state. Every effort to let the NWC see reason fell on deaf ears”.
He stated, “On the day the party’s presidential rally was held in Ebonyi State, I told Dr Ayu that I was boycotting the rally because I cannot support the candidate they imposed on Ebonyi State.
“Dr. Ayu did nothing, he did not care even as I did not attend the Ebonyi rally”
According to him, “NWC may wish to know that I am proud to have supported the All Progressive Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election.
“My decision conforms to the equitable formular in Ebonyi State, it is therefore my expectation that the NWC should reverse itself in the interest of the party.
It would be recalled that the NWC of the PDP on Thursday suspended Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Governor of Ekiti State Ayodele Fayose and Aslam Aliyu.
The PDP also referred Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, to the National Disciplinary Committee over his reported involvement in anti-party activities.
