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| Tanimu Turaki. |
Northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus candidate for the party’s National Chairmanship ahead of the convention scheduled for November in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The announcement was made by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, speaking for the Northern zone after a meeting of PDP leaders held in Abuja on Wednesday night. Fintiri declared Turaki the consensus candidate, adding that any aspirant dissatisfied with the decision is free to contest.
Turaki is a legal expert with extensive experience in constitutional law, election petition litigation, commercial arbitration, international criminal law, intellectual property, oil and gas, and mergers and acquisitions.
He previously served as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and also acted as Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
During its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on August 25, the PDP resolved to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the National Chairmanship to the North. Northern leaders subsequently further micro-zoned the chairmanship slot to the Northwest.
Earlier on Wednesday, reports indicated that former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; and Turaki were in a tight contest for the position, which was to be decided during the zonal stakeholders’ meeting this week.
Fintiri, who also chairs the National Convention Organising Committee, explained that after extensive consultations with leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Turaki emerged as the unanimous consensus candidate for 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.
“I will not want to preclude what others are speculating outside, but we are gentlemen, and as you can see, we are all leaders. We represent each of the states in the North, the 19 states, including Abuja, the FCT. This is our decision, and we expect this to be the lineup of our delegates in Ibadan.”
Fintiri added that other positions would be resolved at the regional level, with delegates presenting their candidates at the convention.
“Altogether, we have ten positions in the North as far as the convention is concerned. Nevertheless, anybody who still feels they want to contest for any position is free, and this is what our position allows.
“We are not excluding anybody. But then, we have just announced to you our consensus candidate as far as these leaders are concerned.
“If anybody still feels he wants to contest, I have said it time without number that the door is open. Anybody who wants to contest for whatever position can do so,” he added.
On rising tension within the party, Fintiri stated that the PDP has strong mechanisms to manage internal disputes.
He said, “Of course, the PDP is an institution, and we have mechanisms to handle all these issues. We will reach out and talk to each other.
“We’ve been talking to ourselves, not today, not yesterday. This is a build-up of consensus over the last two weeks, and this is just the result of our consultation. I’m assuring you that the convention will be a rancour-free convention.
“We are still united and focused, and our primary responsibility at the moment is the convention. This is what we are discussing primarily.”
The announcement comes amid growing tension as preparations continue for the PDP’s national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16.
Although the convention is set for Ibadan, Oyo State, discontent remains among supporters of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who are reportedly unhappy with the leadership style of Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Wike’s loyalists are reportedly frustrated over unresolved leadership issues in the South-South, disputes over control of party structures in states such as Cross River, Akwa Ibom, and Plateau, and disagreements regarding micro-zoning of key elective positions ahead of the convention.
The internal dispute has extended to the courts. In suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/2120/25, PDP chairmen from Imo and Abia States—Austin Nwachukwu and Amah Abraham Nnanna—together with the South-South Zonal Secretary, Turnah Alabah George—accused the Damagum-led National Working Committee of breaching the party’s constitution and internal election guidelines.
Presided over by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the matter was adjourned to October 16 following a dispute over who was legally authorised to represent the PDP in court.
Both the party’s Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and Chief Chris Uche (SAN) claimed the authority to represent the party, prompting the judge to require proof of authorisation ahead of the next hearing on October 20.
A letter dated October 16, signed by 14 members of the National Working Committee, reaffirmed the decision to remove Ajibade and appoint Chief Uche (SAN) in his place. Ajibade, however, maintains that only a national convention can remove him.
In a related development, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, wrote to the Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the Department of State Services, denying that he signed the August 29 letter notifying INEC of the convention and requested an investigation.
The party leadership rejected Anyanwu’s claim and supported a security investigation, raising fears that internal disputes, allegations of forgery, and court cases could hinder preparations for a smooth leadership transition.
Those present at the Northern PDP 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 Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Others in attendance included former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Information Professor Jerry Gana, and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro, among other party leaders.
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