Crisis In PDP, As North Central Bent On Completing Ayu’s Tenure; Urge Damagum To Revert To Deputy Chairman

By Akinwale Kasali

The crisis rocking opposition Party, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is yet to abate as the North Central Caucus of the Party has insisted that it would complete the tenure of Iyorchia Ayu, the former National Chairman of the Party who was unceremoniously removed from office after the Party’s loss at the 2023 Presidential Election.

Consultations are, however, ongoing in the camp of the North Central Caucus who are bent on taking over the saddle as the National Chairman of the Party.

The North Central Caucus reached this decision sequel to the announcement of dates for the Party’s National Caucus/ National Executive Committee Meetings scheduled to hold on April 17 and 18, 2024.

Speculations are however rife that the North Central Caucus could consider one of the following persons as its Candidate. They include former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, from Kwara State and Senator Gabriel Suswam from Ayu’s native Benue State.

It was also gathered that the Party leaders from the zone met in Abuja last week to finetune strategies to present a common front to avoid acrimony.

Those at the crucial meeting included party executives from across the six states, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, that make up the North Central Zone, as well as selected elected representatives.

As a fallout of the meeting, it was reliably gathered that those in attendance agreed that the North Central should serve out what is left of Ayu’s term, while Damagum whom most of them agreed, “has done well in acting capacity,” should revert to his original position as Deputy National Chairman.

Sources within Plateau State disclosed that Plateau State Governor, Caleb Muftwang is expected to convene a meeting of the zonal caucus to put final touches to the strategy on how this can be achieved.

According to the source, “With the litigations over the 2023 elections now over, we expect the party leadership to do the needful to reposition our party for better performance.

Ayu’s time as Chairman has not effectively ended and we in the North Central have put our heads together and agreed that his replacement should come from among us because the position which was zoned to us in 2023 still subsists. The Constitution of our great party makes it so.

“We have been holding meetings on this issue. If you will recall, our state Chairmen met here in Abuja, after a meeting with the NWC last Wednesday.’’

When asked about names being considered for the job, the source said: “We are still consulting but I assure you they are people whose names and pedigree are known nationwide.

“Sooner than later His Excellency, the Plateau State governor, Caleb Muftwang, will convene a meeting where final decisions will be taken”.

It was also gathered that the North Central Caucus is  insisting that the Acting National Chairman of the Party, Illiya Damagum and his National Working Committee, NWC, had performed well calling that Damagum be reverted  as Deputy National Chairman of the Party.

The Caucus is also demanding that the Zoning Arrangement should be respected as contained in the Party’s constitution so that Ayu’s replacement should come from their Zone.

It would be recalled that prior to the 2023 National Election, the Chairmanship Position of the Party was zoned to North Central in which Ayu won unopposed, after the removal of Uche Secondus as National Chairman.

There has,  however, been renewed pressure on the Damagum-led National Working Committee, NWC, to convene a NEC meeting to, among other things, “receive the nomination from the north central and approve a substantive national chairman from the zone.”