PDP Chairman: Iyorchia Ayu Emerges North Central Candidate as Mark, Gana, Others Step Down

• The Peoples Democratic Party has finally choosen Dr Iyorchia Ayu as its preferred candidate of North Central
• According to reports, the former senate president was selected after a meeting of the leaders of the zone in Abuja
• Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state disclosed that the leaders from the six states in the Northern zone picked Ayu among other five aspirants

Benue - A former Senate president, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as the preferred candidate of North Central in the race for the national chairmanship of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Nation reports that Ayu was chosen after a marathon meeting of the leaders of the zone on Tuesday, October 12, at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state, while addressing newsmen after the meeting, said the leaders from the six states in the North Central picked Ayu from a number of five aspirants that indicated an interest in the race.

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The other aspirants that stepped down were Senator David Mark, ex-Governor Ibrahim Idris, Prof Jerry Gana and Attah Idoko.

According to Ortom, the leaders of the zone picked Ayu because they believed he had the commitment and capacity to stabilise the PDP and lead the party to victory in the 2023 general elections.

Governor Ortom said:

“We met here for several hours.

"Amongst the five persons that were contesting, the leadership of our party from the North Central unanimously agreed to sponsor former Senate President Dr Iyorchia Ayu, to be the national chairman of our party from the North Central.

“There was no voting, we all agreed that he is the right person for this job at this time. Tomorrow (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”.

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Those at the meeting were former Senate Presidents-Chief David Mark and Dr Bukola Saraki.

Also at the meeting were Prof Jerry Gana; former Kogi Governor, Ibrahim Idris and BoT chairman, Senator Walid Jibrin among others.

Prominent PDP governor's aide resigns, declares governorship ambition ahead of 2023

Meanwhile, Legit.ng had earlier reported that the chief press secretary to the Benue state Governor, Terver Akase, tendered his resignation from office in order to focus on his 2023 governorship aspiration.

It was reported that Akase made this known on Wednesday, September 29, at a press conference held in Makurdi, to unveil his plan for the forthcoming general election.

He said that his principal accepted his resignation letter.

Source: Legit.ng