Iyorchia Ayu has emerged as the new national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the main opposition party concluded its national convention in Abuja on Sunday.
Ayu succeeds suspended national chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, who is in court disputing his removal.
A total of 3,600 delegates voted for the new PDP National Working Committee members at the two-day convention with most candidates emerging by consensus.
Only the office of the deputy national chairman (South) was put to a vote out of the 21 NWC positions. Taofeek Arapaja defeated former Osun state governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, to win the slot.
Arapaja polled 2,004 votes to defeat Oyinlola, who garnered 705 votes.
The newly elected members of the NWC were declared by the Governor of Adamawa State and Chairman of the Convention Organising Committee, Ahmadu Fintiri.
After he was announced national chairman, Ayu assured the party members and delegates that the PDP is ready to wrestle power from the APC.
He said “PDP is back”, adding that, the new PDP will rescue Nigeria from the ‘terrible mess’ it has been in the last six years.
“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.
“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,” Ayu said.
Born in Gboko, Benue State, Ayu is an academic and politician. He taught sociology in the University of Jos, including courses on the art and science of Marxism, and was the Chairman of the Jos University chapter of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
He is also a former Nigerian senator who was elected President of the Senate during the Nigerian Third Republic (1992–1993).
He later served in various Ministerial positions in the cabinet of President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.
