By Henry Ibya, Makurdi
Elected Party Chairmen of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State, has endorsed, Conrad Utaan as the sole nominee of the PDP to replace Iorchia Ayu, who was removed from office by his council ward exco for nonpayment of Party dues.
Speaking at a press conference held Wednesday in Makurdi, spokesperson for the group, Adigo Terseer, said that critical stakeholders and key components of the PDP United under a common forum decided that for the party to re-discover its true identity and take back its pride of place, as the most viable political party in Nigeria and Benue in particular, decided to take the lead to ensure that the laws of the party are implemented above groups and individual interest.
Adigo also the PDP Party Chairman of Katsina-ala LGA equally affirmed that,only when bold and courageous decisions by doing what is right is done that PDP will be revived and made functional as a political party which will once again be attractive to Nigerians.
He said when they took the oath of office and allegiance on the assumption of office, they pledged to do the right thing always by giving absolute loyalty to the party above other considerations, arguing that in fulfillment of the oath, by section 47(6) of the PDP constitution 2017(as amended to replace Iorchia Ayu with Conrad Utaan which is in line with the Constitution that state’s that replacement must be from the area of the outgoing Chairman, to reinforce the party’s commitment to equity, justice and fairness which its core principles.
They recalled that when, Barnabas Gemade and Audu Ogbe both from zones A and C previously served in the office of the National Chairman and after their tenure Iorchia Ayu took the tone of zone B but could not complete his tenure, insisting that for equity, fairness and justice not to be fulfilled halfway, Ayu’s replacement should come from Benue North- West and the only aspirant from the zone Utaan replace Ayu as sole candidate of the PDP as National Chairman.
The group further opined that they decided to add value to the agitations from Benue State and North Central Region for Ayu’s replacement as National Chairman, adding that their decision would be communicated to the State Working Committee, SEC, for onward transmission to the zonal executive committee, ZEC, for North Central for it to transmit same to the National Executive Committee for their affirmation as a replacement for Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP.
