PDP Appoints Umar Damagum As Acting Chairman To Replace Iyorchia Ayu

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has appointed Umar Damagum as acting chairman, following the suspension of the party’s national leader, Iyorchia Ayu.

KanyiDaily recalls that the PDP national chairman, Iyorchia Ayu was suspended in Igyorov Ward of Gboko Local Government Area of Benue State.

Ayu stepped down on Tuesday, March 28, after his kinsmen stormed the national secretariat of the PDP to demand that he step aside.

Speaking at a press conference at the party’s secretariat, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Debo Ologunagba, announced that Umar Illiya Damagum has been appointed as the party’s acting chairman.

Damagum, who was the Deputy National Chairman (North), will occupy the seat in an acting capacity pending the determination of the substantive suit restraining Ayu from parading himself as National Chairman.

When asked about the party members’ reactions to the suspension and how the party planned to move forward, Damagum said, “As a party, we are prone to reconciliation. We will review it,  we will have an NWC (National Working Committee) meeting tomorrow (Wednesday) and in that meeting we will discuss it, and there will be possible review of whatever is happening.”

KanyiDaily recalls that the PDP also referred Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom to the National Disciplinary Committee, but Governor Nyesom Wike insisted that Ortom would not appear before the Committee.