Northern PDP stakeholders endorse Turaki as consensus candidate for national chairman position

After an extensive and private gathering on Wednesday in Abuja, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Northern Stakeholders have collectively agreed to present former Minister Tanimu Turaki as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the party.

The endorsement comes ahead of the highly anticipated National Convention scheduled to take place on November 15 and 16 in Ibadan.

The stakeholders, made up of PDP governors from the northern region, members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), and other influential party leaders from the North, convened behind closed doors to deliberate on the leadership role that has been zoned to the northern part of the country.

After careful reflection, discussions, and consultations, Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, emerged as the chosen candidate.

Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, speaking to the press after the meeting, emphasized the unity and depth of consultation that led to the endorsement.

He explained that the stakeholders had taken the responsibility seriously, recognizing the importance of the chairmanship role not only for the party but for national politics as a whole.

“We convened this evening to make a decision on the chairmanship of our great party, the PDP, a position that has been zoned to the North.

”After wide consultations and reflecting on the interests of the party and the region, we have agreed on a consensus candidate. That person is KT Turaki, SAN.

”We are presenting him as our candidate to lead the party at the forthcoming convention in Ibadan,” Fintiri said.

He made it clear that the endorsement did not exclude anyone who still wished to contest the position.

The door remains open for other aspirants, with the stakeholders encouraging a transparent and democratic process within the party.

“There are ten positions zoned to the North at the convention, and while we have presented our consensus candidate for the chairmanship, anyone interested in any of the positions is free to contest.

”Our position does not exclude anyone. We want to maintain unity and allow all voices to be heard,” Fintiri said.

On the question of managing relationships with other northern PDP figures who may have ambitions for the chairmanship, including former Jigawa State governor Ibrahim Shakarau, Fintiri assured that the party has mechanisms to engage all stakeholders.

The consultation process has been ongoing for weeks, and the meeting’s outcome represents a culmination of those efforts.

“PDP is an institution, and we have established procedures to handle these matters.

”We have been engaging with various leaders for the past two weeks, and this meeting was just the final step in that process.

”We are confident that the upcoming convention will be peaceful and free of conflicts,” he added.

In light of recent political movements and defections from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC), Fintiri emphasised that the party remains united and focused on its priorities.

”The convention is a crucial event for the party, and the leadership is committed to ensuring it proceeds smoothly.

“Our party remains united despite the defections. Our primary focus right now is the convention and the future direction of the PDP,” he said.

The meeting was attended by prominent northern governors including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State. Also present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi, Tanimu Turaki himself, and northern members of the PDP National Working Committee under the leadership of Umar Damagum.

The endorsement of Turaki marks a significant step for the PDP in positioning itself for a cohesive and strategic leadership ahead of the national convention, as the party seeks to consolidate support across all regions and strengthen its internal democracy.