A former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His victory was announced late Saturday by Senator Ben Obi, who represented Anambra Central, during the party’s national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to Obi, Turaki was elected unopposed after the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State, Lado Danmarke, withdrew from the contest. Despite stepping down, Danmarke still received 275 delegate votes, while Turaki secured 1,516 votes, making him the clear winner.
Obi noted that out of 1,834 total votes cast, 43 were declared invalid.
“From the results announced, it is evident that Taminu Turaki has won the position of National Chairman of the PDP with 1,516 votes,” he said.
In other results, Solarin Sunday Adekunle won the office of Deputy National Organising Secretary with 633 votes. The positions of National Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were suspended, while 17 additional positions were uncontested, with their nominees automatically returned as elected.
A total of 3,131 delegates were involved in the convention, with 2,745 accredited.
Governors present included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).
Absent were Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba).
Other notable attendees included the Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, former Osun governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Gombe governor Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, and the Board of Trustees Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, among others.
PUNCH Online previously reported that in August, the PDP National Executive Committee zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, while allocating the national chairmanship position to the North, in line with the party’s zoning arrangement.
Ahead of the convention, key North-West stakeholders endorsed Turaki as their consensus candidate in a series of meetings held in October.
Participants in the endorsement included governors from Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Zamfara, as well as the then acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Other prominent figures present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Information Jerry Gana, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau.
