By Ahmed Ahmed
Alh. Umar Babangida from Adamawa State has emerged as the new Zonal Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Northeast subregion.
Babangida emerged the Northeast Zonal Chairman of the party on Sunday in Bauchi after voting of delegates during the party’s congress.
Delegates from the six states in the zone took part in the congress, during which all 22 positions were filled unopposed.
Speaking on behalf of the newly elected officials, Umar Babangida, pledged to justify the confidence reposed in them and called for continued support from party members.
Speaking during the congress, the acting National Chairman of PDP, Amb. Ilya Damagum, observed that the impressive turn out to the PDP Northeast zonal congress indicated the oneness of the members of the party.
“Today, we have glaringly shown to other geo-political zones of the country that PDP in Northeast is one solid entity.
“You see that all PDP Governors and their state party leaders are all here in Bauchi, and we have conducted a peaceful and rancour free elections
“Let me openly tell the press that before we came to zonal congress, back at our state levels we sat together and came into terms with our candidates where we reached consensus on zonal positions and came up with consensus candidates to this particular congress elections”.
He said it was in view of following due process and party’s electoral guidelines that they conducted the zonal elections where votes were openly cast and counted before all party members and other stakeholders.
Damagun described the peaceful conduct of the congress as a testament to the party’s unity.
He further assured that similar congresses would be held across other geopolitical zones in preparation for the PDP National Convention.
The congress was attended by key party figures, including governor of Adamawa state, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba state and Gov. Bala Mohammad of Bauchi state.
The congress also saw the participation of former governors Adamu Mu’azu and Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, alongside National and State Assembly members from the region.
The PDP Northeast zonal elections which were guided and supervised by an electoral committee led by Arc. Festus Okoye saw the emergence of Alh. Umar Babangida as the zonal chairman with 601 votes out of the 623 accredited delegates and 22 invalid votes.
Hon. Umar Aliyu clinched the position of Zonal Secretary with 601 votes and 22 invalid votes.
