PDP convention, a quit notice for APC, says Ayu, new national chairman

*19 consensus candidates emerge as NWC members

*Convention peaceful, credible says Fintiri

*It is for unity of PDP – Amb Damagum, deputy national chairman (north)

Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Newly elected national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Iyorcha Ayu described the successful conduct of the party’s national convention at the weekend as signalling an end to the All Progressive Congress (APC) administration in the country.

Ayu who emerged a consensus candidate ahead of the convention said the successful conduct of the convention has silenced optimists and once again pronounce the cohesiveness of PDP as a truly national political party.

According to him, many people imagine that the convention will lead to the break off for the PDP but the outcome has confirmed that their dreaming were misplaced.

In his acceptance speech early hours of Sunday, the former Senate President gave assurance that Nigerians will rally round the party to democratically rescue power from the ruling party at the 2023 general election.

He said “those who have lost hope should know that Nigeria is not a divided country. A small group of people decided to divide Nigeria. PDP will come back unite our people, put them together, north and south, east and west.

“We will move ahead to develop this country. We did it before. We are going to do it again. I want to thank the governors.

I want to thank the delegates. I want to thank our supporters and every single person who has made this event such a huge success”.

Mocking the APC, he said the ruling party can never hold a convention.

“Because in even state congress they cannot hold. They have produced 92 state chairmen for 36 states, how can they hold a successful convention which the PDP has done

“We are waiting for them. This is a quit notice. PDP is back and is taking back the country to develop it”, he said.

Out of the 21 NWC positions, 18 candidates emerged through the party’s consensus arrangement ahead of the event while two contestants; Ikechukwu Samben Nwosu and Mrs. Chibuogwu Benson- Oraelosi shortly before commencement of voting stepped down for Ojechukwu Obiechina Daniel to emerged National Auditor.

Those that emerged on the consensus list are; Iyorchia Ayu (national chairman, Samuel Anyanwu (national secretary), Ahmed Yayari Mohammed (national treasurer), Umar Bature (national organizing secretary), Daniel Woyegikuro (national financial secretary), Stella Effah-Attoe (national woman leader), Mohammed Kadade suleiman (national youth leader), Kamaldeen Adeyemi Ajibade (national legal adviser), Debo Ologunagba (national publicity secretary) and Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel (national auditor).

Others are ; Setonji Koshoede (deputy national secretary), Ndubisi Eneh David (deputy national treasurer), Ibrahim Abdullahi (deputy national publicity secretary), Ighoyota Amori (deputy national organizing secretary), Adamu Kamale (deputy national financial secretary), Hajaja Yakubu Wanka (deputy national woman leader), Timothy Osadolor (deputy national youth leader) and Okechukwu Osuoha (deputy national legal adviser).

Of the two contested positions, Umar Iliya Damagum, 2019 PDP governorship candidate in Yobe State defeated former Women Affairs minister, Hajiya Maryam Inna Ciroma to emerge deputy national chairman (North)

In the other contest, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, former deputy governor of Oyo State defeated former National Secretary of the party, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola to emerge deputy national chairman (South).

Chairman, National Convention Organising Committee and governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri while commending all organs of the party and members nationwide for the success of the convention, thanked members of the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) “for leading the party successfully”.

The convention, he said was peacefully conducted in an atmosphere devoid of rancour and that it is credible and totally acceptable to members nationwide.

Reiterating that the tenure of the NEC end in December, Fintiri said “let me quickly add that, as a law abiding party, we are conscious of your tenure until December 9,2021.

This is to enable the subsisting NWC members to exhaust their statutory tenure of office and ensure a smooth transition in the party”.

Meanwhile, the newly elected Deputy National Chairman (North), Ambassador Umar Illiya Damagum has described his victory at the national convention as a step towards the unity of the party not only in the north but nationwide.

This is as the party chieftain expressed gratitude to the northern caucus of the party for finding him worthy as a consensus candidate.

He commended the efforts of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee under the chairmanship of the Adamawa State governor, Rt. Hon Ahmadu Fintiri and members of the various Sub- committees for the seamless convention.

Ambassador Damagum gave kudos to PDP Governors Forum ably led by Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State for role played in the process that resulted in the successful conduct of the delegate convention.

Amb. Damagum also appreciated other contestants for their resilience as well as delegates across the country for their commitment to the interest of the party.

As a deputy national chairman, he promised to “complement the efforts of the national chairman and other NWC members to work on the same page in moving the PDP back to winning ways come 2023”.