Northern PDP stakeholders during a closed door meeting in Abuja
In a major political development, northern stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have thrown their weight behind former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus choice for the party’s national chairmanship ahead of the Nov. 15 National Convention in Ibadan.
The decision was reached on Wednesday night during a closed-door meeting of PDP governors, members of the National Working Committee (NWC), and other influential figures from the northern region held in Abuja.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State said the endorsement was the outcome of “extensive consultations and deep reflections” among northern party leaders.
> “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,” Fintiri explained.
“After wide consultations, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the chairman of the PDP. That gentleman is KT Turaki, SAN. This is our collective decision, and he will be presented at the convention in Ibadan.”
Fintiri emphasized that the meeting had full representation from all 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However, he clarified that the endorsement does not exclude others from vying for the position.
> “Anyone who still wishes to contest is free to do so. We’re not shutting anyone out,” he said. “Our consensus decision represents the position of the northern leaders, but the process remains open to all interested aspirants.”
He also revealed that other positions zoned to the northern region would be finalized at the regional level before the convention, noting that the North had been allocated 10 positions in total.
On the possibility of engaging other aspirants such as former Jigawa State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Fintiri noted that internal consultations were ongoing.
> “PDP is an institution with structures for dialogue and consensus-building,” he said. “This outcome is the product of two weeks of intense consultations, and I’m confident that the convention will be peaceful and united.”
Addressing concerns about recent defections to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Fintiri dismissed suggestions of internal cracks, insisting that the PDP remains solid.
> “We are still united and focused,” he stressed. “Our immediate priority is to deliver a successful and rancour-free convention.”
Among the key figures at the meeting were Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). Also in attendance were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, KT Turaki, and members of the PDP NWC from the North led by Umar Damagum.
(Source: NAN)
