Former Senate President Iyorchia Ayu has emerged as the consensus candidate of the northern states for the position of the national chairman of opposition Peoples Democratic party (PDP).

Governor of Adamawa, Ahmadu Fintiri, confirmed the development at a media briefing on Thursday. He said Mr Ayu was unanimously picked by northern caucus of the party.

The National Executive Council of the party had at its 94th session ratified the zoning of the top office to the North ahead of its elective National Convention fixed for October 30 and 31.

Two other contenders for the position- Ibrahim Shehu Shema and Suleiman Nazif- stepped down for Mr Ayu to emerge, ThisDay reported.

Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state had on Tuesday announced the emergence of Mr Ayu as consensus candidate for North-Central region and had expressed optimism that he would be adopted by other Northern states.

“Among the five persons that were contesting, the leadership of our party from North-Central unanimously agreed to sponsor former senate president, Iyorchia Ayu, as national chairman of our party,” Mr Ortom told pressmen after the meeting on Tuesday.

Another report had emerged on Wednesday indicating that party stakeholders in the North-West had settled for former Katsina governor, Ibrahim Shehu Schema as the zone’s consensus candidate ahead of a general meeting of northern stakeholders on Thursday.

The emergence of a “Middle-Belter” as National chairman may give the Northern caucus a shot at the Presidential ticket in the 2023 general elections.