With 3,600 delegates, Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concluded its elective national convention in the early hours of Sunday, with the newly elected National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, declaring that the party is back to take back power from the All Progressives Congress.
Members of the next National Working Committee (NWC) were declared by the Governor of Adamawa State and Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri.
Speaking shortly after he emerged winner, Ayu thanked the party members stating that ‘PDP is back’. The newly elected chairman stated that the party will rescue Nigeria from the ‘terrible mess’ it has been in the past six years.
Ayu said, “I want to sincerely appreciate the PDP family. 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.”
The 21 newly elected members are drawn from different parts of the country at the party’s national convention, which began on Saturday and lasted till Sunday at Eagle Square in Abuja.
See the full list of the PDP’s newly-elected NWC members:
National Chairman – Iyorchia Ayu
Deputy National Chairman (North) – Umar Damagum (Contested)
Deputy National Chairman (South) – Taofeek Arapaja (Contested)
National Secretary – Samuel Anyanwu (Unopposed)
National Treasurer – Ahmed Mohammed (Unopposed)
National Organising Secretary – Umar Bature (Unopposed)
National Financial Secretary – Daniel Woyegikuro (Unopposed)
National Women’s Leader – Professor Stella Effah-Attoe (Unopposed)
National Youth Leader – Muhammed Suleiman (Contested)
National Legal Adviser – Kamaldeen Ajibade (Unopposed)
National Publicity Secretary – Debo Ologunagba (Unopposed)
National Auditor – Okechuckwu Daniel (Unopposed)
Deputy National Secretary – Setoji Kosheodo (Unopposed)
Deputy National Treasurer – Ndubisi David (Unopposed)
Deputy National Publicity Secretary – Ibrahim Abdullahi (Unopposed)
Deputy National Organising Secretary – Ighoyota Amori (Unopposed)
Deputy National Financial Secretary – Adamu Kamale (Unopposed)
Deputy National Women’s Leader – Hajara Wanka (Unopposed)
Deputy National Youth Leader – Timothy Osadolor (Unopposed)
Deputy National Legal Adviser – Okechukwu Osuoha (Unopposed)
Deputy National Auditor – Abdulrahman Mohammed (Unopposed)