More Trouble For Damagum As Engr Utaan Moves To Replace Ayu As PDP National Chairmanship
•By Our Reporter
ABUJA – The battle to reclaim the National Chairmanship position by the North Central Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken another dimension, as Engr. Conrad Terhide Utaan, has indicated interest to serve out the tenure of the zone.
Recall that since Senator Iyorcha Ayu was sacked by the court as PDP National Chairman, Amb. Umar Damagum, has occupied the position as the party Acting National Chairman for more than a year now.
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Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution expressly stated that “where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer.”
Interacting with newsmen on Wednesday while opposing the continued stay of Damagum as the Acting National Chairman, Engr. Utaan expressed concern that Damagum was becoming more or less like the substantive National Chairman as against the party Constitution.
He said: “What came to us in the North Central was the national chairman of the PDP, and then all of a sudden, we discovered that Damagun was becoming more or less a substantive chairman. And then nobody was saying anything, you know, so again, I took it upon myself to give it a challenge. You know, for my zone, it happens when Muazu left as the national chairman and the chairman goes to another zone, the North East, battled until the chairmanship was return to the Northeast.
“And this our case should not be an exception. The Chairman of PDP is for the North Central Zone. If the party, or the National Executive Committee of the party decides that Damagum should be a substantive chairman, you should come out and tell North Central, okay, the Deputy Chairman North that Damagu was before he ascended to position of the chairman becomes vacant. So North Central brings the replacement, North East cannot have both deputy national chairman, national chairman at the same time when we North Central are left with nothing, you know.”
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Utaan warned of the implication of denying North Central its rightful position, adding, “the APC, as much as we hate to take it, may just stroll into another term. If the PDP continues this way, that is the reason why we are in this and by the way, this term ends in November 2025, I’m not running to be chairman for four years. I’m running to complete the term of the North Central, the term of Benue, the term of Benue North West Central district, even if it’s for two days, it belongs to the North Central. It belongs to Benue. It belongs to zone B of Benue. It’s ours, even if it’s for two days.
“Common justice requires that the PDP should return back to the North Central, what truly belongs to the North Central. Political interest has kept us where we are, but we are making headway. The recent ward local government and state congresses across the country has thrown up a group of young people, who are going to place a demand on this party, and look, this process does not require a national convention. That’s not what the law says, it’s for Benue to approach the North Central Zonal Executive Committee of the party with a replacement.
“Now that Iyorchia Ayu is no longer the Chairman, this position was zoned to us. This is our consensus candidate for Benue. And it will be upon the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party, in North Central to present that name, to the NEC of the party on the 24th of October. 2024.”
Utaan disclosed that he is more than prepare to occupy the position of the party National Chairman, stressing, “look I’m ready to engage anybody, who wants to replace Iyorchia Ayu in an open debate, trust me, I’ll floor them.
“I have what it takes, not only academically or intellectually, but I have a real feel, the pulse of the people on the street, ordinary members of the PDP can connect to me better than any former national secretary, any former governor or former senator or former minister or former anything to connect with me better.
“I have met with the leaders of this party across all strata. I’ve met with my party at the local level, I’ve met with them at the state level last week, I addressed the North Central Executive Committee of the party. My message resonated with them.
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“Probably I have brought a new fire that will awaken the North Central, and by extension, awaken the PDP, yeah, our campaign may be slow, unassuming, because, ofcourse, we are new names. We are new face. It is my desire to lead this party with humility, with sacrifice.
•INDEPENDENTNG.