North Central Dumps Mark For Ayu As PDP Chair
BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – With all eyes on the October 31 national elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the North Central geo-political zone seems to have effectively schemed former Senate President, David Mark out of the Party’s national chairmanship contest.
Insiders said for political exigencies, PDP leaders and stakeholders from the Zone have decided to throw their weight behind another former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, who is enjoying the backing of Benue State Governor and Deputy Chairman of the PDP zoning committee, Dr Samuel Ortom.
Addressing newsmen on their choice of Ayu by the Zone’s caucus meeting held at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja, Governor Ortom said: “This is stakeholders meeting of the North Central PDP in continuation of finding consensus candidate for the national chairmanship of our party.
“We are looking for someone with the capacity, commitment, love, and passion for our party. We met here for several hours and among the five persons that were contesting. As the leadership of our party from North Central, we unanimously agreed to sponsor former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, to be National Chairman of our party.”
Giving further insights on the Zone’s decision; Governor Ortom said; “There was no voting; we all agreed that he is the right person for this job at this time.
“Tomorrow (today, Wednesday), the northern stakeholders of our PDP are going to meet. So, he will be presented to the northern caucus of the party. I think that by the grace of God they will also accept him”,
The Benue Governor said regardless of Senator Ayu’s choice by the North-Central zone, other geo-political zones from the North are at liberty to present their candidates.
Prominent faces that attended the zonal meeting, which lasted over three hours, include former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; ex-Information Minister, Professor Jerry Gana; former governors of Niger, Kogi and Kwara states, Babangida Aliyu, Ibrahim Idris, and Abdulfatai Ahmed, among other dignitaries from the geo-political zone.
A few weeks ago, Governor Ortom had openly rooted for Senator David Mark, but had to make a u-turn following alleged pressure and opposition to his candidature by some party chieftains, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and Senator Bukola Saraki, said to be uncomfortable because their presidential ambitions come 2023.
Sources hinted that forces massing against Mark’s candidacy consider him as too strong-willed and uncompromising a personality that would not pander to anybody’s will.
However, it may not be Uhuru yet for the Zone as allies of Bukola Saraki are still not comfortable with the zoning arrangement. Moments before the caucus meeting flagged off, one of the former Senate President’s close political allies, Abubakar Baraje, issued a statement rejecting the Chairmanship position zoning to the North-Central.
The statement titled; “Baraje: We Want North Central to Produce President, not Party Chairman”, said no matter which zone in the north produces chairman, qualified persons from the North Central will contest the presidency come 2023.
The former acting National Chairman of PDP accused some leaders outside the North-Central of working to impose the chairmanship position on the zone for obvious selfish reasons.
