Ahead of the April 18 National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, members from Nasarawa State have demanded that the party’s National Chairman be picked from the state.
A coalition within the Nasarawa PDP specifically demanded that the party’s governorship candidate in 2023, David Ombugadu, become the next PDP National Chairman.
The PDP currently has an acting National Chairman in the person of Umar Damagum.
Ahead of the PDP NEC meeting, there are agitations that Damagum should leave to pave the way for the appointment of a substantive chairman.
Stakeholders want the next Chairman to come from the North Central where the suspended National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, hails from.
In a statement released to journalists in Lafia on Wednesday, the coalition, led by Mustapha Umaisha, emphasised that Niger, Kwara, Kogi, and Benue had already had their respective opportunities to hold positions of PDP national leadership.
Therefore, the coalition stressed Ombugadu’s importance as a decision-maker at the party’s national headquarters, citing his extensive political experience from his candidacy in the 2019 and 2023 state governorship elections.
Umaisha said, “In the spirit of inclusivity, it is time for Nasarawa to be at the forefront of the PDP’s leadership, a position we hardly enjoy.
“Prior to the election in year 2023, Nasarawa’s only advisory position within the party, the Board of Trustees chairmanship, which was held by elder statesman Sen. Walid Jibrin was relinquished amidst an internal disagreement.
“This selflessness should be compensated by our party members nationwide. After all, we played our part as loyal party members.
“Benue State has enjoyed the chairmanship position thrice, Kwara, Kogi and Plateau states in the North Central have also enjoyed that slot, and even at that, all positions zoned to the North Central have always been taken by our brothers in Niger, Benue, Kwara, among others and we have been very happy for them.”
