Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa have kick-started their advocacy for the national chairmanship position of the party to be moved to the state.
In a statement released by Mustapha Ibrahim Umaisha and shared with reporters on Tuesday, the stakeholders said Nasarawa’s representation at the national level is long overdue.
They highlighted the absence of the state’s leadership in the upper echelons of the PDP as untenable, saying:
“In the spirit of inclusivity, it is time for Nasarawa to take a prominent role in the leadership of the PDP, a position we have been conspicuously absent from.”
The group lamented the situation preceding the 2023 election when Nasarawa’s sole advisory position within the party, held by elder statesman Sen. Walid Jibrin as BOT Chairman, was relinquished amidst internal discord.
They argued that Nasarawa’s selflessness in that instance deserves recognition from party members nationwide.
“We have witnessed neighboring states like Benue, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau enjoying the chairmanship position, while positions zoned to the North Central have consistently been occupied by our counterparts in other states.
It is time for Nasarawa to be duly acknowledged. It is crucial to acknowledge Nasarawa’s steadfastness in both national and state politics,” the group stated.
The stakeholders argued that Nasarawa presents highly qualified and distinguished individuals as potential candidates for the national chairmanship position, particularly Dr. David Emmanuel Ombugadu, the party’s last gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 governorship poll.
“David Ombugadu embodies the essence of effective leadership, commanding admiration and respect both locally and nationally,” the group stated.
Engr KB Mohammed from Keffi echoed the sentiments, emphasizing that anything short of considering Nasarawa for a leadership position at the national level would be unjust.
“As the call for representation grows louder, all eyes are on the PDP caucus to heed the call for inclusivity and fairness within the party’s ranks, and Ombugadu is the answer,” he added.
