On Monday, Justice Wilfred Kpochi presided over a Makurdi High Court where the suit seeking to remove Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the embattled National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was adjourned to April 28, 2023. Justice Kpochi also withdrew from the matter.
The PDP ward executive of Dr. Ayu’s Igyorov ward of Gboko LGA, Benue State, suspended him after passing a vote of no confidence on him. Following this, Mr. Conrad Utaan, a stalwart of the party, approached the court seeking a declaration that Dr. Ayu is no longer fit to hold office as the national chairman of the PDP.
On March 27, 2023, Justice Kpochi issued an interim order restraining Dr. Ayu from parading himself as the National Chairman of the PDP, pending the hearing and determination of the suit. When the matter came up, Dr. Ayu’s counsel informed the court that he was withdrawing his preliminary objection and counter affidavit to the suit.
Mr. Utaan’s lead counsel did not oppose the application for the withdrawal of the two processes, but requested that the court award costs against Dr. Ayu. Mr. Ukala also informed the court that the defendants served him fresh processes while he was in court and that he would have to respond to them.
Counsels in the matter agreed that the preliminary objection and counter affidavit as well as the substantive suit be heard together on April 28, 2023. Dr. Ayu’s counsel affirmed this submission, and Justice Kpochi adjourned the matter to April 28, 2023, for the hearing of the substantive suit.
He also informed the parties that he would be returning the case file to the Chief Judge of Benue State to reassign to another judge as he was embarking on a national assignment at the elections petitions tribunal.