Kebbi PDP Rejects Turaki As Northern Chair Choice

The Kebbi State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the reported adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, as the northern consensus candidate for the position of PDP National Chairman.

After an emergency meeting in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the state chapter said it was neither informed nor part of the decision said to have been taken by some northern PDP governors.

In a communiqué issued after the meeting, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sani Dododo, said Kebbi PDP aligns with the position of North West stakeholders who earlier dismissed the endorsement.

He said Turaki had shown no visible involvement in the affairs of the party at the state level, adding that his sudden emergence as consensus candidate took members by surprise.

Dododo said Turaki had never consulted or met with Kebbi PDP leaders to declare his interest or seek their support.

The chapter reaffirmed its support for the North West PDP’s position that each state should have the right to deliberate and nominate candidates under the party’s zoning policy.

It insisted that the decision to name Turaki as consensus candidate was unacceptable and reaffirmed its commitment to fairness, inclusion, and internal democracy.

The race for PDP national chairman has grown intense in recent weeks, as the current leadership prepares to hand over. Discussions among party governors and key figures have centered on zoning the chairmanship to the North, following the PDP’s rotational leadership principle.

Reports earlier suggested that some northern governors had endorsed Turaki as the region’s preferred choice. But the move has triggered pushback from several North West states, including Kebbi, which argue that it was made without adequate consultation.

Analysts believe the disagreement reflects ongoing divisions within the PDP as it struggles to rebuild unity and strengthen its structure ahead of the 2027 elections.