Governor Bala Muhammad of Bauchi State, who also serves as the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, has confirmed that efforts are underway to return the party’s national chairmanship to the North Central region.
This follows consultations between the PDP Governors’ Forum and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), including acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, and National Legal Adviser, Kamaludden Ajibade (SAN).
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Speaking with journalists in Bauchi after a meeting with the NWC, Governor Bala noted that the acting chairman’s current position is a “constitutional anomaly,” as the national chairmanship was originally zoned to the North Central.
He emphasized that, per the party’s constitution, leadership vacancies should be filled by individuals from the region where the position was initially allocated.
“The North Central has long aspired for this leadership role. We are working closely with the NWC to ensure the chairmanship returns to this region,” Bala said.
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He further recalled a precedent from the North East, where former Governor Ahmadu Muazu stepped in as National Chairman after Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s resignation, arguing that this was a similar constitutional arrangement.
However, acting National Chairman Umar Damagum has argued that there is no explicit requirement in the PDP constitution mandating that the national chairmanship must always remain in the North Central.
He explained that the deputy chairmen of the party are positioned to maintain regional balance—one for the North and one for the South.
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“The constitution only states that if a chairman leaves, the deputy from that region takes over,” Damagum clarified
