Crisis looms as North Central Insists on Damagum’s Job

The North Central Zone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) rose from its meeting on Wednesday evening, with a unanimous resolution that the zone must produce the next National Chairman of the party to complete the tenure of the suspended former National Chairman, Senator Iyorchia Ayu.

The zone vowed that it will not allow plans by some interest groups in the party to sidestep the constitution and perpetuate the Acting National Chairman of the Party, Amb. Umar Damagum, who is from the North East, in office.

Daily Trust reliably gathered from one of those that attended the meeting at Grand Ibro Hotel in Wuse Zone 5 Abuja, that the region is insisting on Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution which provides that “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the office 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”.

The zone has already directed the Party’s Zonal Vice Chairman (North Central) Hon. Theophilus Dakkas to transmit its position to the National Working Committee (NWC) ahead of the NEC meeting.

The source said the motion to that effect was moved by Senator Tunde Ogbeha and was widely supported without dissent.

The zone also restated tis position that Damagum should revert to his position as the Deputy National Chairman (North).

Earlier, PDP Governors who also met ahead of the NEC had said they could not take a unanimous decisoon on Damagum’s fate.

The NWC had passed a vote of confidence on Damagum.