A former Senate President, Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as the northern consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
He emerged after a series of meetings by stakeholders over a 72 hour period.
The Union Nigeria understands that his choice came after a marathon meeting of the Northern Caucus of the PDP held at Bauchi State Governors’ Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja.
The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the PDP had zoned the position of National Chairman to the North apart from endorsing the decision of Zoning Committee which said the current National Working Committee (NWC) positions be swapped between the North and the South.
Ayu was chosen after two other contenders; a former Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema and Senator Abdul Ningi were prevailed upon to step down.
It was gathered that the Deputy National Chairman; North, Senator Suleiman Nazif who was to stand as the sole contestant from the North East, was given a rude shock when Senator Abdul Ningi, also from Bauchi State joined the race.
The stakeholders meeting earlier scheduled to hold late on Wednesday was postponed till Thursday when it became apparent that the plan by governors to present Ayu as a consensus candidate was in jeopardy.
A source privy to what transpired at the meeting said, “The level of mobilization for the meeting was huge and those present were prepared to put the choice to a vote but governors knew this so they postponed the meeting till today.”
