PDP Stakeholders In North-Central Plot Bold Move To Replace Damagun

Key stakeholders from the North-Central Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have made it clear that they are committed to ensuring the replacement of the party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagun, by early 2025.

A statement issued after a high-level meeting in Abuja, attended by two former Senate Presidents, two former presidential candidates, ex-senators, a current member of the PDP National Working Committee (NWC), ex-ministers, four former governors, and the region’s only sitting governor, outlined their position.

The meeting revealed that efforts are already underway to garner support from party leaders across the northern region to replace Damagun with a candidate from the North-Central Zone.

Among those in attendance were David Ombugadu, a former House of Representatives member from Nasarawa State, who had previously been proposed as a consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship, and Senator Gabriel Suswam, a staunch supporter of Atiku Abubakar, who had also expressed interest in the National Chairman role.

The communiqué, issued after the meeting in Abuja, outlined three key resolutions: “The stakeholders (Elders) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reviewed the state of the Party, particularly with regard to the vacant position of National Chairman following the exit of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

“The PDP constitution clearly states that vacancies in party offices at all levels can be filled by appointment from the respective zone, as outlined in section 47 (6) of the party’s constitution.

“The party must adhere to its constitution, and the leadership is urged to take decisive action to restore unity and cohesion within the party, making the necessary sacrifices and compromises to rebuild confidence.

“In this light, the North-Central stakeholders appealed to their counterparts in other northern zones, urging them to support the return of the National Chairmanship to the North-Central Zone to complete its tenure.

“They emphasized the need for a concerted effort to build consensus and secure backing for the North-Central Zone’s candidate.”