Nigerian Concord Newspaper
Today’s withdrawal of pending appeals by the suspended national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has paved way for the candidacy of Senator Gabriel Suswam as the National Executive Council NEC of the the party has determined to appoint a substantive national chairman from the North Central.
Recall that a former governor of Benue state and the immediate past senator from Zone A, Gabriel Suswam PhD few weeks ago declared his intention to complete Ayu’s tenure as the national chairman of the party.
During his consultations, his successor and the immediate past governor of Benue state, Chief Samuel Ortom PhD threw his weight behind the aspiration. Also, several North Central leaders and groups of the party declared their open Supports for Senator Gabriel Suswam to complete the tenure of the suspended national chairman.
Meanwhile, this newspaper gathered that all is now set for the appointment of a National Chairman for party in view of the latest development and action by Iyorchia Ayu, who, in a great show of party patriotism and commitment, withdrew all his pending appeals at the Court of Appeal where he was challenging the Party for removing him from office.
Reacting to the development, the G-60 People Democratic Party lawmakers in the 10th National Assembly commended Senator Iyorchia Ayu for withdrawing the appeals, noting that the action will now force the Acting Chairman, Umar Damagun who had refused to step down to hand over to North Central.
According to the G-60 PDP Federal lawmakers led by Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere Ideato, Senator Ayu’s action had removed the last bottleneck and excuse being given by Damagun to hang on to power. The lawmakers added that the withdrawal had opened the express way without any excuse for Damagun to revert to his position as Deputy Chairman.
The lawmakers who have been clamouring for reform of the party including the resignation of the acting chairman, Umar Damagun stated that with this withdrawal, PDP NEC would proceed with the election of a North Central candidate as National Chairman, during their NEC meeting which has been slated for tomorrow.
Meanwhile, the North Central Zone of the Party has in a unanimous decision, resolved that the zone must produce the next National Chairman of the Party following the removal of the former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu from office.
This is coming on the heels of reported plots to sidestep the PDP Constitution and perpetuate the Acting National Chairman of the Party, Amb. Iliya Umar Damagum, who is from the North East, in office, when the position of the National Chairman is zoned to the North Central.
Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution provides that “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the office of the Party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure”.
PDP leaders from the North Central rose from a crucial meeting at the Grand Ibro Hotel Abuja on today (Wednesday, April 17, 2024), with a unanimous decision directing the Party’s Zonal Vice Chairman (North Central) Hon. Theophilus Dakkas Shan to transmit the position of the Zone to the National Working Committee (NWC) ahead of the NEC meeting tomorrow.
A motion to that effect was moved by Senator Tunde Ogbeha was widely supported without a dissent as North Central Zone of the Party is said to have perfected arrangement to name Ayu’s successor for necessary inauguration processes at the NEC meeting on Thursday.
The North Central restated their position that Amb. Damagum should immediately revert to his position as the Deputy National Chairman (North) in the interest of the stability of the Party.