PDP Chairman: Reactions Trail Ex-minister, Turaki, Emergence As Northern Candidate

Reactions have trailed the emergence of former minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the consensus candidate of the Northern leaders of  Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of  the party’s national chairman ahead of the November 15 convention.

This comes as more consultations by PDP leaders from the North, including state party chairmen, were held yesterday night in Abuja to formalise the endorsement.

On Wednesday night, PDP Northern stakeholders  formally endorsed Turaki, as their consensus candidate for the position of national chairman.

The PDP chairmanship slot had been zoned to the North-West geopolitical zone to promote regional balance and party cohesion.

However at the Wednesday meeting, Adamawa State governor Adamu Fintiri, who also chairs the National Convention Organising Committee, explained that following extensive consultations with leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Turaki emerged as the unanimous consensus candidate for the position of PDP National Chairman.

He stated, “We have met this evening to deliberate and take a decision on the office of the Chairman of our great party, the PDP, which was zoned to the North.

“In our meeting, we have reflected deeply and widely through consultations, and as we go to Ibadan for our national convention, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the Chairman of the PDP.

“That gentleman is K.T. Turaki, SAN. This is our decision this evening, and he is the person we are presenting at that convention for that position.”

He said all other positions will be resolved at the regional level, and delegates will present their candidates at the convention.

“Those present at the meeting included the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; PDP Board of Trustees Secretary and former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; and the party’s Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.

Also in attendance were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Information Professor Jerry Gana, and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, among others.

Reacting however, Niger state chapter of PDP said it has no objection to Turaki’s nomination.

The party secretary in the state, Hamid Hadi Kuta, said any recommendation from elders and leaders should be respected by any responsible member.

He said the PDP in Niger will support any step aimed at ensuring the progress of the party including the nomination of Tanimu.

Meanwhile, the PDP in Jigawa State said any  candidate must be approved by the wider party.

The state chairman of the party, Hon. Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, said the stakeholders’ choice of Turaki is only a recommendation which requires the endorsement of other key stakeholder groups within the PDP.

“In Jigawa State, we support any measure that ensures peace and stability for our party; that is our unwavering stance,. We are now observing the responses from other regions and stakeholders.

“The Jigawa PDP is one hundred percent behind the current consultations and strategies aimed at delivering a hitch-free and successful national convention of our party  on November 16th, 2025.” Gumel stated.

However, a PDP stalwart in Kano State, Yahaya Bagobiri, has hailed the choice of former minister Tanimu Turaki as the consensus candidate of the north as the National chairman of the party ahead of the party’s national convention.

Bagobiri said as a member of the North-west, his choice is accepted, saying, “Turaki is the best choice and qualified for the position.

“It is a welcome development and we welcome it,” he said.