*Urges NC to nominate Ayu’s replacement
*PDP Chairman, Secretary absent from meeting
By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
Members of the Board of Trustee (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have asked party supporters from the North Central to immediately convene a meeting to nominate a replacement for the ousted National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
The BoT members gave the directive on Thursday after an emergency meeting held on Thursday at the NEC hall of the Party headquarters in Abuja that lasted for about three hours.
In a Communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by the BoT Chairman, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, the Board expressed deep worry over the current state of affairs of the PDP, particularly with regard to the administration of the Party.
The BoT members called on the governors elected on the platform of the party to be more united and work with other interests in the party to advance the goals of the party.
The Communique reads, “The BoT demands that NWC immediately commence the restoration of internal harmony, unity, stability and public confidence in the Party by respecting the PDP Constitution and adhering to the zoning of NWC offices to the various geo-political zones in the country.
“BoT calls on the PDP Governors’ Forum to be more united and work along with other organs of the Party to resolve issues in the Party expeditiously
“The BoT is deeply disappointed over the continued shifting by the NWC in convening a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. This delay not only undermines the trust and confidence of our members but portrays our Party as having been hijacked by certain interests
“The BoT demands that the NWC should show leadership, honour its word and convene the NEC meeting as scheduled in February 2025.
“This is critical for resolving pressing issues and charting a clear path forward for the party. Any further postponement will exacerbate existing challenges and may spell doom for our Party.
“The BoT calls on the leaders of the North Central Zone to immediately convene a meeting of North Central stakeholders with a view to nominating a replacement for former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
“The BoT calls for unity and strict adherence to democratic principles by all Organs of the Party so as to strengthen the PDP to effectively play its role as true opposition party in the country
“The BoT stressed that the strength of the PDP lies in collective resolve and not in individual pursuits. The BoT cannot therefore afford to let personal ambitions or differences overshadow the shared vision for a better Nigeria.
“To this end, the BoT remains committed to its search for true reconciliation, unity and harmony in the Party.
“On the national front, the BoT laments that the harsh economic policies of the Tinubu Administration have exacerbated the suffering of Nigerians as skyrocketed cost of living has pushed millions of our citizens deeper into poverty with no hope in sight under the APC administration.
“The BoT and indeed the PDP continue to stand with Nigerians and demands that the Tinubu Administration revisits and reviews all its anti- people policies, end its insensitivity, profligacy, corruption, and allow for effective management of national resources for the good of all Nigerians”, th communique said.
The constitution of the party stipulates that a new National Chairman should emerge from the zone where the last Chairman came from so as to complete the tenure.
Since the exit of Ayu, the North Central has been agitating over the occupation of the office by the Deputy National Chairman, North Amb. Umar Damagum.
Present at the meeting were; former Senate President, David Mark, former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki, former governor of Gombe State Ibrahaim Dankwabo, former governor of Niger State Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Kaduna State Sen. Ahmed Makarfi and many other stalwarts.
It was however observed that the party’s National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum and National Secretary, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu were absent from the meeting and did not offer any apologies.
The tenure of the present National Working Committee is expected on end on the 5th of December, 2025.
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