National Convention: Iyorchia Ayu Is PDP National Chairman

As expected, Iyorchia Ayu has emerged the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alongside other 20 national officers of the party.

Ayu’s emergence marked the conclusion of the PDP’s elective national convention in the early hours of Sunday.

The former Senate President went into the elective convention as the consensus candidate of the Northern PDP leaders following horse trading that led to his preferred candidate for the office from the Northern Nigeria.

However, delegates still cast their ballot for all the candidates despite the consensus.

A total of 3,511 accredited delegates to the National Convention were called out to vote.

First to be called were delegates from Abia and Adamawa States. Abia has 116 delegates while Adamawa has 118 delegates.

According to the Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the Convention and Governor of Adamawa State, Alhaji Umaru Fintiri, there were a total of 3,701 delegates in the PDP, out of which 3,511 were accredited.

“Very significantly is for me to have the privilege as the Chief Returning Officer of the 2021 PDP National Convention Election Chairman to announce and declare His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Iyorchia Ayu as duly elected and returned National Chairman of our great party,” said Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State while announcing the results of the elections.

Shortly after his announcement as the new chairman, Senator Ayu accompanied by some governors made a brief remark.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family,” the elated new chairman said. “Today is simply a thank you address. When we started this party 23 – 24 years ago, we never in any way imagined that the journey will get us to this stage – a stage where we ruled for 16 years, we went into rough times but for anybody who will bother to see, PDP is back.

“And it is back to rescue Nigeria from the terrible mess we have been in the last six years. I want to appreciate all of you who have taken time as delegates, as observers, as supporters, as members of the media, as members of the security services, who have made this event such a wonderful event.”

See the full list of the newly-elected national officials of the main opposition party below:

National Chairman – Iyorchia Ayu

Deputy National Chairman (North) – Umar Damagum (Contested)

Deputy National Chairman (South) – Taofeek Arapaja (Contested)

National Secretary – Samuel Anyanwu (Unopposed)

National Treasurer – Ahmed Mohammed (Unopposed)

National Organising Secretary – Umar Bature (Unopposed)

National Financial Secretary – Daniel Woyegikuro (Unopposed)

National Women’s Leader – Professor Stella Effah-Attoe (Unopposed)

National Youth Leader – Muhammed Suleiman (Contested)

National Legal Adviser – Kamaldeen Ajibade (Unopposed)

National Publicity Secretary – Debo Ologunagba (Unopposed)

National Auditor – Okechuckwu Daniel (Unopposed)

Deputy National Secretary – Setoji Kosheodo (Unopposed)

Deputy National Treasurer – Ndubisi David (Unopposed)

Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unopposed)

Deputy National Organising Secretary – Ighoyota Amori (Unopposed)

Deputy National Financial Secretary – Adamu Kamale (Unopposed)

Deputy National Women’s Leader – Hajara Wanka (Unopposed)

Deputy National Youth Leader – Timothy Osadolor (Unopposed)

Deputy National Legal Adviser – Okechukwu Osuoha (Unopposed)

Deputy National Auditor – Abdulrahman Mohammed (Unopposed)

With this Uche Secondus tenure, which is expected to end by December may have come to an abrupt end with his suspension.