Key stakeholders from the North-Central Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have made it clear that they are determined to secure a replacement for the party’s acting national chairman, Ambassador Umar Ilyas Damagun, in early 2025.
A communiqué released 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 serving governor, outlined their position.
The meeting revealed that strategic efforts are already in place to rally support from party leaders across the northern region to replace Damagun with a candidate from the North-Central Zone.
Among those present were David Ombugadu, a former House of Representatives member from Nasarawa State, and a previously proposed consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship position.
Also in attendance was Senator Gabriel Suswam, a strong supporter of Atiku Abubakar, who had previously shown interest in the role of PDP National Chairman.
The communiqué, which followed their meeting in a location in Abuja, highlighted three main resolutions: “The stakeholders (Elders) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reviewed the state of the Party with particular reference to the vacant position of National Chairman of the Party following the exit of Senator Iyorchia Ayu.
“The PDP constitution clearly stated that for succession of offices in the party at all levels which is largely to the extent that any vacant position can be replaced by appointment from the zone as per section 47 (6) of the party.
“The party is guided by its own constitution at all times, therefore, the leadership of the party needs to rise up to the occasion to restore goodwill and cohesion in the party by making necessary sacrifices and compromises to restore confidence and cohesion in the party.
“It is in the light of this that the stakeholders of the North Central Zone appealed to the conscience and goodwill of our compatriots in other zones of the Northern region to restore the seat of the Chairmanship of the party back to the North Central Zone to serve out its tenure.
“That the stakeholders must strive to build consensus to get the buy-in to the position of north central zone.
“North central is united and will strive to preserve the PDP as a veritable platform for good governance in Nigeria.”
Key attendees at the meeting included Plateau State Governor Caleb Muftwang, former Senate Presidents David Mark and Bukola Saraki, PDP National Legal Adviser Alhaji Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), former Interior Minister Senator Abba Moro, and ex-governors Jonah Jang, Babangida Aliyu, Abdulfatai Ahmed, and Idris Wada.
Other notable figures in attendance included Senators Tunde Ogbeha, Simon Mwadkwon, Margaret Ichen, Raymond Dabo, Sarah Ochekpe, Suleiman Adokwe, Labaran Maku, Zainab Kure, Jerry Gana, Dino Melaye, Philip Aduda, Maika Jiba, Isa Dobi, Mohammed Onao, and Peter Jiya.