Former Senate President, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu emerged today as the consensus candidate of the North for the national chairmanship of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP.
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State made the announcement after a meeting of the Northern caucus of the party at the Bauchi Government House in Abuja.
Ayu was chosen after two other contenders – former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema and Senator Abdul Ningi were prevailed upon to step down.
The Deputy National Chairman, North, Senator Suleiman Nazif, who was to stand as the sole contestant from the North East, had to step down when Senator Abdul Ningi, also from Bauchi State joined the race.
The party’s stakeholders meeting earlier scheduled for yesterday was postponed till today when it became apparent that the plan by governors to present Ayu as a consensus candidate was threatened.
Ayu will be presented to the PDP National Convention holding in Abuja on October 30 and 31 for ratification as the next national chairman of the opposition party.