PDP Chairman: Ayu emerges northern consensus candidate

Former Senate President, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as consensus national chairmanship candidate of the Northern Caucus of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) ahead of the October 30 national convention.

He emerged as the consensus candidate of the northern PDP leaders on Thursday after a series of horse-trading.

He was declared a candidate at the Bauchi State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja after a PDP Northern Caucus meeting.

Ayu, who emerged as the consensus candidate of the North Central caucus of the party on Tuesday night, emerged as the consensus candidate of the northern caucus ahead of North West candidate, former Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, and North East candidate, Senator Abdul Ningi.

The Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who chaired the meeting of the Northern PDP Caucus said Ayu’s choice signals the PDP move to return to power in 2023.

It would be recalled that the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) had zoned the national chairmanship to the North. Party leaders from the zone however met and resolved to come up with a consensus candidate last Wednesday.

The Wednesday meeting failed to produce a consensus candidate as northern leaders opposed Ayu’s choice in protest against PDP governors who backed his emergence as a candidate.

While briefing newsmen after the meeting which produced Ayu as consensus candidate yesterday, chairman of the meeting, Adamawa State governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, said with Ayu’s emergence the party is ready for the 2023 election.

He said there was no election and there was no selection, adding that the northern governors will discuss with their southern counterparts over Ayu.

“There is no vanquish there no victor in this meeting we all came out united. Out of the three northern candidates that all the three zones produced, the candidates themselves in the spirit of unity and togetherness, in the spirit of ensuring that PDP emerges and benefits from our efforts so that we can win together for Nigerians the 2023 general elections.

 “Distinguished senator Iyorcha Ayu has emerged as a consensus candidate of the north. With this, we are fully prepared, we are ready. We will be talking with our colleagues from other parts of the country, especially the south, they see reasons for this consensus candidate and give us support during the October 30 and 31 Convention of PDP.

 “All of them were immensely qualified but through discussion and reconciliation, we have emerged with a consensus list that was endorsed by the candidates themselves. There was no election and there was no selection,” Fintiri said.

 In his acceptance speech, Ayu said, “It is my singular honour to accept the responsibilities which have been put on my shoulders from the North. I believe that at the end of the day, it will not only be the North, but it will be all Nigerians. 

 “The PDP will be back to its winning ways. And we will work tirelessly after the convention to rebuild the party to take over power to rebuild the country.

 “I believe all Nigerians want a PDP government. Our 16 years moved this country forward. 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.

Also Read:  Insecurity: Northern leaders launch ‘Abuja Roundtable’  

 “It will be an all-inclusive administration of the party. We will work collectively to produce policies that will be acceptable to all Nigerians. Today, our currency is the weakest in the world. Even the Somalians are better than us in Africa. We will work hard to solve the issue of insecurity.

 “I want to thank the leaders of the North, who are united, determined and who are willing to work with me. 

 “I am a foundation member of this party. I worked at a party before, but I know that you cannot do it alone. We shall work as a team.

 “And I believe with the support of Nigerians, who have suffered in the hands of a party that does not exist, of a party that does not care for the youths of Nigeria, of a party that does not care for anybody but themselves, victory, we shall achieve and administer to this country to the greater glory of God.” 

 Zainab Sa’id

a