Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum takes over as PDP National Chairman after Ayu’s exit

After the exit of the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, the Deputy National Chairman (North), Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum, has taken over as Acting Chairman.

Persecondnews reported that Ayu finally stepped aside on Tuesday following his suspension from the party by his ward executive committee in his state, Benue.

Damagum will hold sway pending the determination of the suit filed against him at the State High Court.

Persecondnews recalls that a High Court in Makurdi, Benue state, had restrained embattled Ayu from parading himself as chairman of the party pending the determination of the substantive suit which has been adjourned to April 17, 2023, for hearing.

A member of the PDP from Benue, Terhide Utaan, who is the plaintiff before Justice W. I Kpochi, obtained the order restraining Ayu from parading himself as national chairman of the party.

Addressing journalists in Makurdi after obtaining the court order, the plaintiff said: “Following the suspension of Ayu by his Igyorov Ward Exco on Sunday, it is wrong for him to keep up with the office of the national chairman and further disunite the party.”

Persecondnews reports that prior to this development, there had been intense calls by some aggrieved party members calling for Ayu to step aside for a Southerner to take over as the Chairman of the party.

The PDP Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and the Rivers Governor Nyesom Wike, had been at daggers-drawn over the removal or resignation of Ayu.

Wike had on several occasions called for the suspension or sack of Ayu “for refusing to obey the constitution of the party on the zoning of political positions.”