PDP: North Central to Reveal Ayu’s Successor…demands that Damagum become the Deputy Chairman again.
The North Central Caucus may have finalized plans to propose a replacement to fulfill the term of outgoing PDP National Chairman Sen. Iyorchia Ayu before of the party’s April 18, 2024, National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.
Following a National Caucus meeting scheduled for Wednesday, the PDP National Working Committee (NWC) has scheduled the Party’s NEC meeting for Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Although the North Central is designated as the Party’s National Chairman, Amb. Illiya Damagum, the Deputy National Chairman (North) from Yobe State, North East Nigeria, has been serving in that capacity since March 28, 2023, or more than a year ago.
The Damagum-led NWC has been urged by a number of sources, notably the North Central, to organize a NEC meeting in order to accept the North Central’s nomination and approve a substantive National Chairman from the zone, among other things.
Party leaders from the North Central were reported to have convened a critical meeting in Abuja last week, during which they allegedly demanded that Amb Damagum return to his original role as Deputy National Chairman in accordance with the PDP’s Constitution, and that a substantive National Chairman should emerge from the North Central as soon as possible.
The PDP North Central Zonal Executive Committee members, along with the State Chairmen of the Party from each of the six states in the zone and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), demanded that a replacement for Ambassador Illiya Damagum, the Acting National Chairman, be presented at the meeting.
According to a source who attended the meeting, the leaders gave Plateau State governor Caleb Muftwang instructions to call a special Zonal Caucus meeting to determine who would be the North Central Zone’s nominee for the party’s substantive National Chairman.
“Our zone was supposed to provide a successor once Senator Iyorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman, departed, but this was postponed. The PDP Constitution stipulates that the North Central is the designated zone for the National Chairmanship and that the North Central must produce the next National Chairman. Thus, adherence to the Constitution is required.
“We have discussed the matter in a number of meetings. State Chairmen from the North Central region convened in Abuja last Wednesday for the same purpose. We are all in agreement that we need a reliable nominee. I can attest to the fact that names are being explored; we are refining our options, and prior to the April 18 meeting, stakeholders will make a decision.
“We have directed the governor, Muftwang, to convene a Caucus meeting within our zone so that we can identify a suitable candidate to succeed Ambassador Damagum.
“During our meeting, we brought this up with Governor Muftwang. In order for our Zone (North Central) to complete its term, the party’s Constitution must be adhered to. The insider stated, “The position is for the North Central, and we insist on reclaiming our position at the NEC meeting.