By Lawal Gwanda, Katsina, Northwest Nigeria The Katsina State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has sworn in new leadership under Alhaji Lawal Magaji following the leadership crisis that recently rocked the party.
The ceremony was held at the party secretariat in the state capital but most of the party critical stakeholders in the state such as the former state governor, Barr Ibrahim Shema, the former state party chairman, Hon. Salisu Yusuf Majigiri and the immediate acting state chairman, Alh. Salisu Uli among others were however absent.
In his acceptance speech, the new
chairman described his emergence as the handwork of God, pledging to work with all members to take the party to victory come 2023 general elections.
He described the rate at which members from the ruling All Progressives Congress APC continue to defect to the PDP as indication that PDP will regain power in the forthcoming elections.
“We should all thank God, this is God in the making not man-made.
“I’m grateful to all members at all levels for making sure that, this my position is filled by the Daura Zone where the former chairman was from.
“It’s left for us to work hard and cooperate with one another. We are here to make progress and nothing else. Take for instance, the rate at which APC members continue to defect to our party.
“We should all work hard to rescue the state from the ugly situation the APC government put it. We must also pray for God to make us success.
“We have nothing to do than to give thanks to God. This Government has brought hunger, kidnapping, poverty. People are looking for PDP for the good work it has done for the people now”, he added
On Friday, the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP approved the appointment of Lawal Magaji as the substantive Chairman of the Party.
Magaji’s appointment was contained in a letter addressed to the Acting State Chairman, Salisu Uli by the National Organizing Secretary, Umar Bature which cited section 7(6) of the party’s constitution directing the acting chairman Salisu Uli to hand over to the new chairman with immediate effect.
The letter urged all stakeholders to support the new leadership of the party.
The letter reads in part: “I wish to officially convey to you the approval of the National Working Committee (NWC), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of our great Party, the PDP; as the Substantive State Chairman of our Party in Katsina State. This follows the election of the then-elected State Chairman as our Candidate for Mashi-Dutsi Federal Constituency for the upcoming 2023 General Elections”.
It further stated that “Your appointment is Pursuant to Section 47(6) which stipulates that: “Where a vacancy occurs in any of the offices of the Party, the Executive Committee at the appropriate level shall appoint another person from the area or zone where the officer originated from to serve out the tenure of the officer”
