A major disagreement has erupted within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North West following the announcement of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the region’s consensus candidate for the position of national chairman.
At a press conference in Abuja on Thursday night, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, speaking on behalf of North West stakeholders, rejected the endorsement, describing it as “unilateral” and “not reflective of the collective decision of the zone.”
Bature clarified that the North West zone had not convened any formal meeting to endorse Turaki. He further stressed that the governors’ announcement did not represent the views of PDP leaders and stakeholders across the zone, noting that the region would soon present its own preferred candidate for the position.
Governors’ Declaration Sparks Rift
On Wednesday, the Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, announced that Turaki had been adopted as the consensus candidate by northern governors and leaders. He, however, noted that any dissatisfied aspirant remained free to contest in the upcoming convention.
The endorsement followed an earlier decision by the party’s PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) during its 102nd meeting on August 25, which zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the national chairmanship to the North. The northern leaders subsequently micro-zoned the chairmanship slot to the North West.
The development came amid reports that former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, and Turaki were leading contenders for the position. The matter was expected to be resolved at a zonal meeting, which was later postponed.
PDP Stakeholders Demand Consultation and Fairness
Bature criticised the process that led to Turaki’s selection, arguing that the North West—being one of the PDP strongest zones—was sidelined in key consultations. He emphasised that consensus must be the product of broad dialogue and agreement, not unilateral endorsement.
“If it’s an open contest, they should have allowed others to participate,” he said. “We were supposed to meet at the instance of the Zamfara governor, but the meeting was postponed. The governor then went ahead to adopt a candidate without consulting the rest of us.”
According to Bature, North West PDP stakeholders—including state chairmen, National Assembly members, and senior party figures—were excluded from the decision-making process. He reaffirmed their collective stance that no candidate currently represents the official choice of the North West for the chairmanship position.
The press briefing was attended by several prominent figures, including former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri, Mustapha Lamido, son of ex-Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, and Isah Ashiru Kudan, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Kaduna State.
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