The 23 Local Government Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Benue State have officially endorsed Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan as the sole nominee to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of the party.
They made the declaration on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at a press conference where the Chairmen expressed their commitment to revitalizing the PDP and ensuring its return to prominence in Nigerian politics.
In a statement read by the PDP Chairman for Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, Hon. Godwin Terseer Adigoh, on behalf of PDP LGA Chairmen in the state, they emphasized the need for the party to reclaim its identity and prioritize the implementation of its laws above personal interests.
They highlighted their responsibilities, which include upholding the party’s core values of equity, justice, and fairness, particularly in the context of leadership transitions.
In alignment with Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution, which stipulates that the replacement for the National Chairman must come from Benue State, the Chairmen asserted that Utaan’s nomination is a continuation of the party’s commitment to equitable representation. Notably, they pointed out that Utaan is the only aspirant from the Benue North-West Senatorial District, which is Dr. Ayu’s home zone.
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The group stated that Utaan’s selection as the sole nominee is not just a procedural necessity but also a moral obligation to uphold the principles that have guided the PDP’s leadership decisions in the past. They affirmed that this endorsement will be communicated to the State Executive Committee for further action, ensuring that it reaches the National Executive Committee in Abuja.
The Chairmen expressed optimism that during the upcoming NEC meeting scheduled for October 24, 2024, Utaan will be confirmed as the new National Chairman, reinforcing the party’s values of equity and justice.
Read the full statement below
We are Elected Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 23 Local Government areas of Benue State, and we have congregated here today as a key component of our great party united under a common forum.
We are convinced that for the PDP to re-discover its true identity and take back its pride of place as the most viable political party in Nigeria at large and Benue State in particular, we the Local Government Chairmen of the party gathered here, must be alive to our responsibilities and duty.
We must take the lead in our various local government areas towards ensuring that first and foremost the laws of the party are implemented above group and individual interests in the party.
We must be firm, bold and courageous in insisting on, and doing what is right, because only then will PDP be revived and made to function as a viable political party which will once again be attractive to Nigerians.
When we took oath of office and oath of allegiance on Thursday, October 3rd, 2024, we pledged to at all times do the right thing, placing duty and loyalty to the party above every other consideration.
It is in fulfillment of the oath we took that we have come together today to address the issue of the replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of our great party, PDP.
As provided in Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) the replacement for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must come from Benue State, to reinforce our great party’s commitment to equity, justice, and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.
Now, it is our firm conviction that since equity, fairness and justice cannot be fulfilled halfway, even in Benue State, the replacement of Dr. Ayu must come from the Senatorial District he hails from, which is the Benue North-West (Zone ‘B’).
It was the wisdom of the leadership of the party at all levels that since Chief Barnabas Gemade and Chief Audu Ogbe had both previously served in the office of National Chairman of the PDP from Zones ‘A’ and ‘C’ of Benue State respectively, Dr. Ayu was given the nod to serve as National Chairman from Zone ‘B’.
It is, therefore, our considered opinion that in continuation of, and fulfillment of the decision for equity, fairness and justice, a candidate from Zone ‘B’ of Benue State be the one to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
And having considered the fact that there is only one aspirant from the Benue Zone ‘B’ Senatorial District in the race to replace Dr. Ayu, we take the stand that the candidate be accorded the privilege of being the SOLE NOMINEE of the PDP from Benue State to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
Therefore, in fulfillment of our civic duty as Chairmen of the PDP in the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State, we individually and collectively openly and publicly today, Wednesday, 9th October, 2024, endorse that sole candidate from Benue Zone ‘B’ in the person of Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan as the SOLE NOMINEE of the PDP in Benue State to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
We have taken this decision today to add force to the agitations from Benue State and from the North-Central Region for the replacement of Dr. Ayu as National Chairman.
This decision of ours taken here today we will communicate to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Benue State for onward action and transmission to the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party for North-Central, which in turn should transmit same to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party in Abuja.
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It is our faith that at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, scheduled to hold on October 24th, 2024, equity, fairness and justice will prevail in the favour of Benue State and the SOLE NOMINEE from the state, Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan, will be affirmed as the replacement for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP.
