Iyorchia Ayu is PDP new national chairman

 

Iyorchia Ayu, a former senate president, has emerged winner of the national chairmanship election of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Ayu, who was earlier adopted as the consensus candidate for the position, won the election unchallenged with 3,426 votes.

Taofeek Arapaja, a former deputy governor of Oyo state, has also emerged national deputy chairman (south).

Arapaja polled 2,004 votes to defeat  Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former governor of Osun state, who scored 705 votes.

Umar Damagum, former governorship candidate of Yobe state polled 2,222 to beat Inna Ciroma, former minister of women affairs from Borno state who garnered 365 votes, for the position of the national deputy chairman (north).

Muhammed Suleiman from Kaduna scored 3,072 votes to beat Usman Elkudan, also from Kaduna, who scored 219 for the position of youth leader.

Only three out of the 21 national working committee positions (NWC) were contested, while consensus candidates were adopted for the remaining positions.

Shortly after he was announced as the new chairman, Senator Ayu walked downed to the podium in company with some governors in the party to give a brief remark.

“I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family,” the elated new chairman said. “Today is simply a thank you address. When we started this party 23 – 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''.