PDP elects Ayu as National chairman, Arapaja as Deputy, other new excos
The main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected the former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu as the national chairman of the party.
Ayu, who was earlier adopted as the consensus candidate for the position, won the election unchallenged with 3,426 votes.
He took over the leadership of the main opposition party alongside 20 others elected into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee.
The new sets of leaders were elected at the party’s National Convention at Eagle Square in Abuja, which began on Saturday and lasted till the early morning of Sunday.
Taofeek Arapaja, a former deputy governor of Oyo state, has also emerged as Deputy National Chairman (South).
Arapaja polled 2,004 votes to defeat Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun State, who scored 705 votes.
For the position of the Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, former governorship candidate of Yobe state, polled 2,222 votes to beat Inna Ciroma, former Minister of Women Affairs from Borno state, who garnered 365 votes.
Muhammed Suleiman from Kaduna scored 3,072 votes to defeat Usman Elkudan, also from Kaduna, who scored 219 for the position of Youth leader.
Only three out of the 21 national working committee (NWC) positions were contested, while consensus candidates were adopted for the remaining positions.
The other NWC positions include National Secretary, Deputy National Secretary, National Treasurer, Deputy National Treasurer, National Financial Secretary, Deputy National Financial Secretary, National Organising Secretary, and Deputy National Organising Secretary.
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Others are National Publicity Secretary, Deputy National Publicity Secretary, National Auditor, Deputy National Auditor, National Legal Adviser, Deputy National Legal Adviser, National Women Leader, Deputy National Women Leader, and Deputy National Youth Leader.
The candidates were declared duly elected by Ahmadu Fintiri, governor of Adamawa state and chief returning officer of the election.
“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 he was announced as the new chairman, Senator Ayu walked downed to the podium in company with some governors in the party to give 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.”
He added that Nigerians will see a “mammoth crowd” defecting to the party in the coming days.
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)
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