Ex-Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, elected PDP National Chairman, 20 other officers also made it

The just-concluded People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Abuja national convention has affirmed the consensus candidature of the PDP National Chairman and 18 others but left a one-time Osun governor dusted.

The Northern block consensus Chairmanship candidate and ex-Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, was affirmed by the delegates as the PDP National Chairman I, Persecondnews reports.

In all, 21 national officers were elected while ex- Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola was beaten hollow by ex-Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja to clinch the Deputy National Chairman (South).

Arapaja, who until the convention was the PDP National Vice Chairman (South-West), polled a total of 2,004 votes while Oyinlola got 705 votes.

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A consensus list could not be reached for three offices – Deputy National Chairman (North), Deputy National Chairman (South) and National Youth Leader.

The list of PDP’s new National Working Committee members :

PDP National Chairman – Dr Iyorchia Ayu

Deputy National Chairman (North) – Umar Damagum (Contested)

Deputy National Chairman (South) – Taofeek Arapaja (Contested)

National Secretary – Samuel Anyanwu (Unopposed)

National Treasurer – Ahmed Mohammed (Unopposed)

National Organizing Secretary – Umar Bature (Unopposed)

National Financial Secretary – Daniel Woyegikuro (Unopposed)

National Women’s Leader – Professor Stella Effah-Attoe (Unopposed)

National Youth Leader – Muhammed Suleiman (Contested)

National Legal Adviser – Kamaldeen Ajibade (Unopposed)

National Publicity Secretary – Debo Ologunagba (Unopposed)

National Auditor – Okechuckwu Daniel (Unopposed)

Deputy National Secretary – Setoji Kosheodo (Unopposed)

Deputy National Treasurer – Ndubisi David (Unopposed)

Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unopposed)

Deputy National Organising Secretary – Ighoyota Amori (Unopposed)

Deputy National Financial Secretary – Adamu Kamale (Unopposed)

Deputy National Women’s Leader – Hajara Wanka (Unopposed)

Deputy National Youth Leader – Timothy Osadolor (Unopposed)

Deputy National Legal Adviser – Okechukwu Osuoha (Unopposed)

Deputy National Auditor – Abdulrahman Mohammed (Unopposed)

Persecondnews also reports that Adamawa Governor and Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri, announced the results.

3,600 delegates voted at the convention.

Speaking shortly after his emergence, Ayu who thanked party members, announced “PDP is back”.

He vowed that the party would rescue Nigeria from the “terrible mess’’ it has been put in the past six years.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family. Today is simply a thank you address. When we started this party 23 – 24 years ago, we never in any way imagined that the journey will get us to this stage – a stage where we ruled for 16 years, we went into rough times but for anybody who will bother to see, PDP is back.

“And it is back to rescue Nigeria from the terrible mess we have been in the last six years.

“I want to appreciate all of you who have taken time as delegates, as observers, as supporters, as members of the media, as members of the security services, who have made this event such a wonderful event,” Ayu told the convention amid cheers and wild jubilation.