MAKURDI: Chairmen of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) of Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Benue State, have endorsed Engr Conrad Utaan, as the party’s sole nominee for the position of National Chairman of the party from the state.
The party chairmen who endorsed Utaan at a press conference held at MT Square Makurdi on Wednesday noted that they were convinced that for the PDP to re-discover its true identity and take back its pride of place as the most viable political party in Nigeria, they had to be alive to their responsibility.
Speaking on behalf of the LG chairmen, the PDP chairman, Katsina-Ala LGA, Godwin Terseer Adigoh, said, the group was endorsing Utaan as sole nominee for the National Chairmanship of the PDP in 2024.
He argued that they were convinced that for the purpose of equity and fairness, the replacement for the immediate past national chairman of the PDP, Senator Iyorchia Ayu, should come from Benue State and indeed Benue North-West (Zone ‘B’) senatorial district, hence, they were routing for Utaan to replace Ayu.
Adigoh said, “We have congregated here today as a key component of our great party united under a common forum.
“We are convinced that for the PDP to re-discover its true identity and take back its pride of place as the most viable political party in Nigeria at large and Benue State in particular, we the Local Government Chairmen of the party gathered here must be alive to our responsibilities and duty.
“We must take the lead in our various local government areas towards ensuring that first and foremost the laws of the party are implemented above group and individual interest in the party.
“We must be firm, bold and courageous in insisting on, and doing what is right, because only then will PDP be revived and made to function as a viable political party which will once again be attractive to Nigerians.”
Furthermore, Adigoh noted that they were bound by the oath of office they took and “It is in fulfillment of the oath we took that we have come together today to address the issue of the replacement of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of our great party, PDP.
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“As provided in Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) the replacement for Dr. Iyorchia Ayu must come from Benue State, to reinforce our great party’s commitment to equity, justice, and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.
“Now, it is our firm conviction that since equity, fairness and justice cannot be fulfilled halfway, even in Benue State, the replacement of Dr. Ayu must come from the Senatorial District he hails from, which is the Benue North-West senatorial district (Zone ‘B’)
“It was the wisdom of the leadership of the party at all levels that since Chief Barnabas Gemade and Chief Audu Ogbe had both previously served in the office of National Chairman of the PDP from Zones ‘A’ and ‘C’ of Benue State respectively, Dr. Ayu was given the nod to serve as National Chairman from Zone ‘B’.
“It is, therefore, our considered opinion that in continuation of, and fulfillment of the decision for equity, fairness and justice, a candidate from Zone ‘B’ of Benue State be the one to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
“And having considered the fact that there is only one aspirant from the Benue Zone ‘B’ Senatorial District in the race to replace Dr. Ayu, we take the stand that the candidate be accorded the privilege of being the sole nominee of the PDP from Benue state to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.
“Therefore, in fulfillment of our civic duty as Chairmen of the PDP in the 23 LGAs of Benue state, we individually and collectively openly and publicly today, Wednesday, 9th October, 2024, endorse that sole candidate from Benue Zone ‘B’ in the person of Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan as the sole nominee of the PDP in Benue state to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP.
“We have taken this decision today to add force to the agitations from Benue State and from the North-Central Region for the replacement of Dr. Ayu as National Chairman”, he said with emphasis.
Adigoh said that subsequently “This decision of ours taken here today we will communicate to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in Benue State for onward action and transmission to the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party for North-Central, which in turn should transmit same to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great party in Abuja.
“It is our faith that at the next National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the PDP, scheduled to hold on October 24th, 2024, equity, fairness and justice will prevail in the favour of Benue State and the sole nominee from the state, Engr Utaan, will be affirmed as the replacement for Dr. Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP”, he said.
