By Peter Duru, Makurdi

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Local Government Chairmen in Benue state have ďeclared Mr. Conrad Utaan as their sole candidate for the National Chairmanship position of the party.

The Chairmen led by Terseer Adigoh of Katsina-Ala Local Government Area, LGA, who made the declaration Wednesday in Makurdi stated that their position was premised on the principles of equity, fairness and justice.

Adigoh noted that as Local Government Chairman they were convinced that for the PDP to re-discover its true identity and take back its pride of place as the most viable political party in Nigeria at large and Benue State in particular, “we the Local Government Chairmen of the party gathered here must be alive to our responsibilities and duty.

“When we took oath of office and oath of allegiance on Thursday, October 3, 2024, we pledged to at all times do the right thing, placing duty and loyalty to the party above every other consideration.”

He explained that it was in fulfillment of the oath that they gathered and took a position on the choice of the successor of Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as the National Chairman of the PDP.

He noted that according to the provision of “Section 47(6) of the PDP Constitution 2017 (as amended) the replacement for Dr. Ayu must come from Benue State, to reinforce our great party’s commitment to equity, justice, and fairness as the core principles upon which the party stands.

“Now, it is our firm conviction that since equity, fairness and justice cannot be fulfilled halfway, even in Benue State, the replacement of Dr. Ayu must come from the Senatorial District he hails from, which is the Benue North-West (Zone ‘B’).

“It was the wisdom of the leadership of the party at all levels that since Chief Barnabas Gemade and Chief Audu Ogbe had both previously served in the office of National Chairman of the PDP from Zones ‘A’ and ‘C’ of Benue State respectively, Dr. Ayu was given the nod to serve as National Chairman from Zone ‘B’.

“It is, therefore, our considered opinion that in continuation of, and fulfillment of the decision for equity, fairness and justice, a candidate from Zone ‘B’ of Benue State be the one to replace Dr. Iyorchia Ayu as National Chairman.

“And having considered the fact that there is only one aspirant from the Benue Zone ‘B’ Senatorial District in the race to replace Dr. Ayu, we take the stand that the candidate be accorded the privilege of being the sole nominee of the PDP from Benue State to replace Dr. Ayu as National Chairman.

“Therefore, in fulfillment of our civic duty as Chairmen of the PDP in the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State, we individually and collectively openly and publicly today endorse that sole candidate from Benue Zone ‘B’ in the person of Engr. Conrad  Utaan as the sole nominee of the PDP in Benue State to replace Dr. Ayu as National Chairman of the PDP.

“We have taken this decision today to add force to the agitations from Benue State and from the North-Central Region for the replacement of the National Chairman.”

The Chairmen resolved that their position would be communicated to the State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party in the State for onward action and transmission to the Zonal Executive Committee (ZEC) of the party in the North-Central, which in tum should transmit same to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the great party for necessary action.”