PDP delegates in Ibadan have elected Kabiru Turaki as the party’s new national chairman.
He is expected to lead the opposition through its rebuilding phase ahead of future elections.
The Peoples Democratic Party has chosen Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, as its new National Chairman. His election was confirmed on Saturday at the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Turaki, who was the only major contender for the position, received 1,516 votes. His closest rival, Lado Danmarke, the PDP governorship candidate in Katsina State during the 2023 election, had earlier stepped down but still recorded 275 votes from delegates.
In other results announced at the convention, Solarin Sunday Adekunle was elected Deputy National Organizing Secretary with 633 votes. The positions of Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were suspended from the exercise, while 17 other positions had no challengers and were filled without contest.
The new leadership arrangement follows the decision of the PDP National Executive Committee in August to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South. This arrangement automatically placed the party chairmanship in the North, in line with the PDP’s rotation practice.
Turaki’s path to the chairmanship gained wide support in October after major stakeholders from the North West adopted him as their consensus candidate during a series of consultative meetings.
The endorsement meeting was attended by several influential figures, including Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed, Plateau governor Caleb Mutfwang, Adamawa governor Ahmadu Fintiri, Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal and acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. Others present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, elder statesman Jerry Gana, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro and former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau.
With his election now formalized, Turaki is expected to guide the PDP through its rebuilding process, strengthen party structures and prepare the opposition for upcoming national and state elections.
