Amidst the ongoing battle for the substantive national chairman position of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the North Central Zonal Caucus has convened a crucial meeting set to take place today, according to sources familiar with the matter.
Multiple sources revealed that the meeting aims to gather stakeholders from the zone to deliberate on the chairmanship issue and possibly nominate a consensus candidate to be presented at the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting scheduled for Thursday.
Advertorial
The clamor for the North Central to complete the tenure of ousted chairman Senator Iyorchia Ayu has intensified in recent weeks, with five aspirants emerging to succeed the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
These aspirants include notable figures like Senator Gabriel Suswam, Humphrey Abah, Phillip Salawu, Emmanuel Agbo, and Conrad Terhile Utaan.
Stakeholders from the North Central Zone have reportedly engaged in lobbying efforts, including reaching out to former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, though Mark has outrightly rejected involvement, while Saraki’s potential participation faces challenges due to current representation from Kwara in the NWC.
Expected attendees at the meeting include representatives from the six North Central states, serving and former governors, members of the National Assembly, former NEC members, state party chairmen, and other key party figures.
Conrad Utaan, one of the aspirants for the chairmanship, has expressed his commitment to setting a new agenda for the party, emphasizing his ability to unite factions and restore the party’s political essence.
In the midst of these developments, Umar Damagum, the acting National Chairman, has reportedly appealed to the North Central Caucus to allow him to complete Ayu’s tenure while yielding the deputy chairmanship to the zone.
However, this proposal has been met with resistance from some stakeholders.
In a related development, the party’s caucus in the House of Representatives reportedly experienced disagreement over a move to pass a vote of confidence on Damagum. While some members rejected the attempt, others called for a reconciliatory agenda to resolve the party’s internal disputes.
The National Working Committee has announced that the National Caucus meeting will also convene today, preceding the NEC meeting on Thursday, with measures in place to address pending litigations and ensure a cohesive path forward for the party.
