Former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu has emerged the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Ayu, a consensus candidate for the position, was elected at the party’s national convention held on Saturday at Eagles Square in Abuja.
Ayu takes over the leadership of the main opposition party at a crucial time as the party hopes to retake control of the Federal Government in 2023.
He and 20 others were elected by party delegates into various positions within the PDP National Working Committee (NWC).
Announcing the results of the elections, chairman of the convention committee Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said, “Very significantly is for me to have the privilege as the Chief Returning Officer of the 2021 PDP National Convention Election Chairman to announce and declare His Excellency, Senator (Dr) Iyorchia Ayu as duly elected and returned national chairman of our great party.”
In his first speech as PDP national chairman, Ayu said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family. Today is simply a thank you address. When we started this party 23 to 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.”
Former national chairman of the party Uche Secondus had unsuccessfully tried to stop the convention at the courts.
See the full list of the newly-elected national officials of the PDP below:
National Chairman – 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 Organising 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).
