October 31, (THEWILL) – Affirming Senator Iyorchia Ayu as its new National Chairman, Nigeria’s leading opposition, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), concluded its 2021 Special National Convention in the early hours of Sunday at the Eagle Square, in Abuja.
The party indicated it would also amend its constitution after the new Electoral Act is signed into law.
The party affirmed Senator Iyorchia Ayu as its National Chairman, Senator Samuel Daddy Anyanwu as the National Secretary, and other members of the National Working Committee (NWC),’
They will be inaugurated on December 9, 2021.
Despite the majority of the NWC positions being filled pre-convention, three still went through the election.
After a keen contest for the office of the Deputy National Chairman (South), former Governor of Osun State and PDP returnee, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, lost to Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja with 2,004 votes.
Oyinlola, who left PDP for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) before making a volte-face recently, only managed to score 705 votes.
Some 3,600 delegates at the convention voted for the new national officers to constitute the PDP NWC.
The election of new party officers commenced at about 5:30 p.m. following a motion moved by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and supported by the Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Honourable Gideon Gwani.
In the contest for National Youth Leader of the party, Suleiman Mohammed Kadede won with 3,072 votes against Usman Elkudan who scored 200 votes.
For the position of Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Damagum won with 2,234 votes against Hajiya Ina Ciroma who polled 365 votes.
A total of 21 officers, including 13 NWC positions and eight deputy national officers emerged at the convention.
The full list of newly elected party officers includes:
National Chairman – Iyorchia Ayu (Unopposed)
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)
The convention was brought to an end at 4.30 a.m. after a Motion for Adjournment was moved by Oyo State’s Governor Seyi Makinde, who presented the team to “rescue Nigeria” to party delegates and to the world.
Meanwhile, National Chairman -Designate, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has served the quit notice to the ruling APC, saying, “We are taking back the country.”
Speaking in the early hours of Sunday, Ayu said: “The PDP is back. We are determined. The other one is a contraption.
“In two weeks time you will see the power that will come back in PDP in every state. A small group of people decided to divide Nigeria. We will unite the country and move ahead to develop this country.
“We did it before, we will do it again. The other party can never hold a convention…. It is a challenge. This is a quit notice to the other party. We are taking back the country. We will develop the country.”
Other party chieftains, also, spoke glowingly of the party’s chances to retake power in 2023, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar; Chairman of the party’s Convention Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Ahmadu Fintiri; former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki; and Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and Sokoto State Governor, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.
About the Author
