Former Senate President Pius Anyim reacted to his suspension by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for alleged anti-party activities, describing the action by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) as disappointing.
In the wake of the party’s loss at last month’s presidential election, the PDP on Thursday suspended Anyim and other prominent leaders, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose; Prof Dennis Ityavyar, and Aslam Aliyu.
But Anyim, in a statement on Friday, defended his support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ebonyi State, Franis Nwifuru, who went on to defeat the PDP’s Ifeanyi Odii.
“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,” he said.
“The NWC may wish to know that I am proud to have supported the APC Gubernatorial candidate in Ebonyi State to win the election because that conforms to the equitable formular in Ebonyi State.”
According to Anyim, the Iyorchia Ayu-led NWC imposed a candidate from the sitting governor’s zone, contrary to the zoning formula of the state.
He added that every effort 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 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.”
The former lawmaker expressed his expectation that the NWC should reverse itself in the interest of the party.
