North Central stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have appealed to their counterparts from the other geopolitical zones to allow them to produce a national chairman to serve out the tenure of the immediate past chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
This was part of a communique issued by the North Central stakeholders after a meeting yesterday – Wednesday, December 18 – in Abuja, the FCT, and made available to journalists.
The communique indicated that the meeting was attended by Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mustwang as well as former Senate Presidents- Senator David Mark and Senator Bukola Saraki – and 25 others.
In the aftermath of the ouster of Ayu as PDP national chairman, the party’s deputy national chairman ( North), Umar Damagum was asked to step in as acting national chairman.
But of recent, there would appear to be manoeuvres by some unseen forces aimed at keeping the party embroiled in its current leadership, with Damagun as Acting National Chairman till election in 2027.
Many dismayed that the party has been polarized on whether Damagum should continue to act or a substantive national chairman should be appointed from North Central to complete Ayu’s tenure in line with the Constitution of the party, a development which ought not to be contemplated at all as it runs contrary to the provisions of the PDP constitution.
However, the PDP stakeholders insist that there is a need for the opposition party to be guided by its Constitution.
“The stakeholders (Elders) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reviewed the state of the Party with particular reference to the vacant position of National Chairman of the Party following the exit of Senator Iyorchia Ayu,” the communique read, in part.
“The PDP constitution clearly stated that for succession of offices in the party at all levels, which is largely to the extent that any vacant position can be replaced by appointment from the zone as per section 47 (6) of the party.
“The party is guided by its own constitution at all times, therefore, the leadership of the party needs to rise up to the occasion to restore goodwill and cohesion in the party by making necessary sacrifices and compromises to restore confidence and cohesion in the party.
“It is in the light of this that the stakeholders of the North Central Zone appealed to the conscience and goodwill of our compatriots in other zones of the Northern region to restore the seat of the Chairmanship of the party back to the North Central Zone to serve out its tenure.
“That the stakeholders must strive to build consensus to get the buy-in to the position of North Central zone. North Central is united and will strive to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria.”
