PDP Chair: Ayu Emerges Consensus Candidate

A former Senate President, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, has emerged as the northern consensus candidate for the position of national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He emerged after a series of meetings by stakeholders over a 72-hour period.
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, last Wednesday, was postponed till yesterday 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 mobilisation 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.”