PDP Crisis: Utaan seeks to replace Damagum, serve out Ayu’s tenure

It emerged on Thursday that leading stakeholders in the embattled Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North Central may have given their consent to the emergence of Conrad Terhide Utaan to serve out the tenure of Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman of the party.

It would be recalled that former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswan, had earlier indicated interest in the same position, but stakeholders were reported to have resolved to pick a dark horse from the same senatorial district where Ayu hailed from.

Confirming his interest, Utaan told journalists in Abuja that what matters to the leaders of the PDP at the moment is that justice must be done not just to the North Central or Benue State, but to the specific senatorial district that produced Ayu as chairman before his removal.

Just last month, the North Central caucus of the party disclosed that it would soon come up with an official position regarding its preferred candidate for the job.

Utaan noted that he is in touch with relevant stakeholders to be produced as the next chairman to serve out the tenure of the zone.

Recall that since Senator Ayu was sacked by the court as PDP National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, has occupied the position of the party’s Acting National Chairman for more than a year now.

Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution expressly states that “where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.”

Briefing journalists in Abuja while opposing the continued stay of Damagum as the Acting National Chairman, Engr. Utaan expressed concern that Damagum was becoming more or less like the substantive National Chairman, which goes against the party’s Constitution.

He said: “What came to us in the North Central was the national chairman of the PDP, and then all of a sudden, we discovered that Damagum was becoming more or less a substantive chairman. And then nobody was saying anything. So again, I took it upon myself to challenge this. You know, for my zone, when Muazu left as the national chairman and the chairmanship went to another zone, the North East battled until the chairmanship was returned to the North East.

“And this case should not be an exception. The chairmanship of the PDP belongs to the North Central Zone. If the party or the National Executive Committee of the party decides that Damagum should be a substantive chairman, they should come out and tell the North Central. Then the Deputy Chairman North that Damagum was before he ascended to the position of chairman becomes vacant. So the North Central brings the replacement. The North East cannot have both the deputy national chairman and national chairman at the same time while the North Central is left with nothing.”

Utaan warned of the implication of denying the North Central its rightful position, adding, “The APC, as much as we hate to take it, may just stroll into another term. If the PDP continues this way, that is the reason why we are in this. And by the way, this term ends in November 2025. I’m not running to be chairman for four years. I’m running to complete the term of the North Central, the term of Benue, the term of Benue North West Central District, even if it’s for two days. It belongs to the North Central. It belongs to Benue. It belongs to Zone B of Benue. It’s ours, even if it’s for two days.

“Common justice requires that the PDP should return back to the North Central which truly belongs to the North Central. Political interest has kept us where we are, but we are making headway. The recent ward, local government, and state congresses across the country have thrown up a group of young people who are going to place a demand on this party. This process does not require a national convention. That’s not what the law says; it’s for Benue to approach the North Central Zonal Executive Committee of the party with a replacement.

“Now that Iyorchia Ayu is no longer the chairman, this position was zoned to us. This is our consensus candidate for Benue. And it will be upon the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party in the North Central to present that name to the NEC of the party on the 24th of October, 2024.”

Utaan disclosed that he is more than prepared to occupy the position of the party’s National Chairman, stressing, “Look, I’m ready to engage anybody who wants to replace Iyorchia Ayu in an open debate. Trust me, I’ll floor them.

“I have what it takes, not only academically or intellectually, but I have a real feel for the pulse of the people on the street. Ordinary members of the PDP can connect with me better than any former national secretary, any former governor, former senator, former minister, or former anything.

“I have met with the leaders of this party across all strata. I’ve met with my party at the local level. I’ve met with them at the state level. Last week, I addressed the North Central Executive Committee of the party. My message resonated with them.

“Probably I have brought a new fire that will awaken the North Central, and by extension, awaken the PDP. Yeah, our campaign may be slow and unassuming because, of course, we are new names. We are new faces. It is my desire to lead this party with humility and sacrifice.”