News Update
THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the North has endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s convention slated for November in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, announced this on behalf of the zone after a meeting of Northern PDP leaders in Abuja on Wednesday night.
Fintiri declared Turaki the consensus candidate, noting that any aspirant unsatisfied with the decision is free to contest.
Media reports that Turaki is a distinguished legal expert with extensive experience spanning constitutional law, election petition litigation, commercial arbitration, cross-border and international criminal law, intellectual property, oil and gas, and mergers and acquisitions.
The nominee previously served as the Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs and also held the position of Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity during the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
It will be recalled that the PDP, during its 102nd National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on August 25, resolved to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the position of National Chairman to the North.
Subsequently, over the weekend, Northern leaders further micro-zoned the chairmanship slot to the Northwest.
Fintiri explained that following extensive consultations with leaders from the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Turaki emerged as the unanimous consensus candidate for the position of PDP National Chairman.
“We have met this evening to deliberate and take a decision on the office of the Chairman of our great party, the PDP, which was zoned to the North.
“In our meeting, we have reflected deeply and widely through consultations, and as we go to Ibadan for our national convention, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the Chairman of the PDP.
“That gentleman is K.T. Turaki, SAN. This is our decision this evening, and he is the person we are presenting at that convention for that position.
“I will not want to preclude what others are speculating outside, but we are gentlemen, and as you can see, we are all leaders. We represent each of the states in the North, the 19 states, including Abuja, the FCT. This is our decision, and we expect this to be the lineup of our delegates in Ibadan,” he said.