Ex-President of the Senate, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu has emerged as consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi Zoning Committee had zoned the position to the North ahead of the opposition party’s convention on October 30-31. Ayu, ex-Minister of Internal Affairs from Benue State, was chosen on Thursday after a second meeting of a northern caucus at Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja. The three Northern zones presented a candidate each for screening for a consensus candidate.

Ayu was chosen as North Central’s candidate while former Katisna State governor Ibrahim Shema and PDP Deputy National Chairman (North) Senator Suleiman NaIf emerged from North-West and North-East, respectively. Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Finitiri, who briefed journalists at the end of the meeting, said other candidates agreed to step down for Ayu.

He said: “There is no vanquish (and) there is no victor in this meeting; we all came out united. “Out of the three Northern candidates the three zones produced, the candidates themselves in the spirit of unity and togetherness, in the spirit of ensuring that the PDP emerges and benefits from our efforts, so that we can win together for a Nigerians the 2023 general elections, Senator Iyorchia Ayu has emerged as a consensus candidate for the North.

“All of them are immensely qualified but through discussions and reconciliation we have emerged with consensus list that was endorsed by the candidates themselves. There was no election and there was no selection.” Ayu will be presented to the Southern caucus who also met in Benin on Thursday. The Southern caucus meeting is expected to come up with National Secretary candidate and other offices zoned to them. Finitiri, who is Chairman of the 20-man Northern Screening Committee, said the zone will reach out to their colleagues from the South for support at the convention.

New Telegraph learnt that it was not easy arriving at Ayu as consensus candidate. A source at the meeting said he was made to sign an undertaken that his emergence will not preclude anybody from any of the three zones from contesting the 2023 presidency.

Part of the agreement is that if the emergence of a presidential candidate tilts the scale in favour of any zone in the North, he will resign and work for the candidate. Ayu in his acceptance speech promised to take the PDP back to its winning ways, adding that after the convention they will work to “rebuild the party to take over power to rebuild the country”. The ex-minister added: “We intend to work together with all the leaders, not only in the North but across the country to reposition this country for the next generation of Nigerians.”

He promised to run an all-inclusive administration as he decried the situation in the country. Ayu said: “We shall work as team. And I believe with the support of Nigerians who have suffered at the hands of a party that does not exist, a party that does not care for the youths, a party that doesn’t care for anybody but themselves, victory we shall achieve and administer to this country to the greater glory of God. “Today, our currency is the weakest in the world. Even the Somalis are better than us in Africa.”

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket

A source at the meeting said he was made to sign an undertaken that his emergence will not preclude anybody from any of the three zones from contesting the 2023 presidency.

Part of the agreement is that if the emergence of a presidential candidate tilts the scale in favour of any zone in the North, he will resign and work for the candidate.

Grayoso:
Lol. PDap playing Igbos like Ludo

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket

kcnwaigbo:

Anything to stop Tinubu is welcomed

benuejosh:
I remember very well. You said it the very first day north central caucus of the party chose him.

helinues:


Abi like Ten Ten

helinues:


Abi like Ten Ten

There is no even assurance that the VP position would be zoned to SE as the likes of Wike is also eyeing the position

helinues:


Abi like Ten Ten

There is no even assurance that the VP position would be zoned to SE as the likes of Wike is also eyeing the position

benuejosh:
abi they don turn them to yo-yo

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket

benuejosh:
It has been said before. Northerners are smart. Give the Northerner the chairman position, if the presidential candidate emerges from North, the Chairman resigns.

The reason why we are advocating for zero zoning in selection of party candidates.

Igbos are not united.

JaroMan:

What concerns Igbos with this story? If you didn't know the outcome of PDP convention since last month, then you should be in Romance section.
PDP surely zoned the presidential ticket to north. But they want to draw the attention of the north to PDP, reason they also zoned the chairman there.
The first chairman of PDP was Alex Ekwueme from SE, yet the PDP zoned the president to South. Ekwueme resigned to contest, then Solomon Lar became the chairman.
If you follow all sporting activities, both football and Olympic, you will a trend. All FIFA sanctioned games are played in Asia. This is to awaken football enthusiasts in the region of the major one coming in Qatar. So it's a strategy.
The East may not even get VP in the new arrangement. Possibly SP
Because, PDP will win 2023, except the whole of South agree to support SE.
OBJ cannot be president for 8 years
Osibanjo VP for 8 years then
Another SW will be president for 8 years.
It's not done anywhere.

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket

helinues:
I no talk am.

That has been the game plan of North.

Use the position of Pdp chairman to work for Northern candidates at the Pdp presidential primary then resign later after winning the ticket