Conrad Utaan, a candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) National Chairmanship, has asked the Benue State Working Committee to nominate him as the only candidate for the party’s highest office.
It is anticipated that this nomination will be made at the October meeting of the National Executive Committee.
After meeting with the working committee chaired by Ezekiel Adaji, Utaan declared that he wanted to become the party’s national chairman in order to defend the interests of the North-Central area.
Utaan brought up the party’s constitution during his meeting with the newly elected state leadership on Wednesday. According to the constitution, the position created by Dr. Iyorchia Ayu’s removal last year had to be filled by a member of the same geographic area as Dr. Ayu, who is a native of the Benue North-West (Zone “B”) Senatorial District.
Given this, Utaan stressed that the Benue State Executive Committee (SEC) of the party ought to designate him as the only candidate from the state to finish the term of the National Chairman since he is the only candidate from Zone “B.”
He emphasised that this position is part of Benue as a state, Benue North-West as a zone, and the North-Central region.
In addition, he pledged to stick with the party and put its interests first in whatever he did, whether or not he was elected national chairman.
Utaan emphasised that his ambition was based on unwavering loyalty and belief in the party’s culture of equity, fairness, and justice to all of its members, even though he stated that his visit was also intended to familiarise himself with the party’s new headquarters in the state and to formally inform the SWC of his desire to serve the party as National Chairman.
He declared, “The North-Central and Benue North-West regions in particular were awarded the position of National Chairman in 2022 due to the party’s zoning arrangement and the wisdom of its leaders.”
“And it would be inequitable to shortchange the party’s members in the zone if someone from the zone were to fill the current vacancy and complete the term.
“My aim is mainly to protect the interest of the North-Central and not a personal one,” he continued, adding that he would follow the party’s national leadership’s decision in accordance with its constitution.
Among other things, the candidate gave the Secretariat computers, printers, TVs, and Digital Satellite Television systems during his visit.
In his reply, the party’s State Chairman, Ezekiel Adaji, praised the candidate for his bravery and reasonedness and gave him the SWC’s support.
Adaji tasked the candidate with carrying out his advice and staying in constant communication with party officials and other relevant parties both inside and outside the state.
State Treasurer Tivkaa Zuana, State Auditor Ms. Vera Akua, State Secretary Dan Nyikwagh, State Secretary Emmanuel Adokwu, State Secretary Dan Nyikwagh, State Publicity Secretary Tim Nyor, and State Vice Chairman for Benue South (Zone “C”), Augustine Ikeke, all praised the qualities of the PDP National Chairmanship candidate, describing him or her as brave, smart, and deserving of the party’s top position.
