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As the October 24th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP approaches, the North Central zone has intensified efforts to replace the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Umar Damagum.
Sources revealed that PDP stakeholders from the North Central met in Abuja last week to discuss potential candidates who could take over from Damagum and complete the tenure of suspended National Chairman Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
The party has been in crisis since the presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as its candidate. The internal conflict led to the PDP’s defeat by the APC, Ayu’s suspension, and Damagum’s rise to acting chairman.
In an interactive session with journalists in Abuja, one of the aspirants for the chairmanship position, Engineer Conrad Utaan, emphasised the need for a fresh start if the PDP hopes to defeat the APC in 2027. Utaan, from the same North Central zone as Ayu, said new ideas and fresh energy were needed to rejuvenate the party.
While acknowledging that Damagum’s position as acting chairman was constitutional, Utaan argued it was unfair for the North East to hold both the Deputy National Chairman and National Chairman roles, leaving the North Central with none.
Utaan claimed that his consultations with the Zonal Executive Committee of the North Central have positioned him as the favoured candidate for the chairmanship. He also argued that zoning and micro-zoning principles within the party should make him the unopposed candidate for the role, as Benue State’s Zone B deserves representation.
Utaan, 47, emphasised that his youth and energy would help the PDP connect with the country’s largest voting demographic—those aged 18 to 50, who make up over 72% of the electorate.
Meanwhile, the chairmen of the PDP in the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State have unanimously endorsed Utaan as the sole nominee to replace Ayu as the National Chairman of the party.
During a press conference held on Wednesday in Makurdi, the LGA chairmen declared their collective decision to support Utaan, emphasising that their choice reflects their commitment to ensuring that the laws of the party are upheld above individual and group interests.
Terseer Godwin Adigoh, the PDP Chairman of Kastina-Ala, read a statement on behalf of his colleagues, noting that the 23 LGA chairmen are determined to ensure that the PDP regains its status as the most viable political party in Nigeria, particularly in Benue State.
