By Ayo Kehinde
Northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Taminu Turaki, as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s convention in Ibadan.
The endorsement was reached after a high-level meeting of northern stakeholders held at the Abuja residence of former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi.
Speaking after the meeting, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, confirmed Turaki’s emergence as the preferred northern choice, but clarified that the field remains open for other aspirants from the region who wish to contest.
The meeting was attended by several prominent PDP figures, including Governors Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, as well as the acting National Chairman, Ambassador Iliya Damagum.
The northern PDP leaders also agreed on the zoning of key national party offices as part of efforts to ensure regional balance and harmony ahead of the convention.
According to resolutions reached, the position of National Organising Secretary was zoned to the North-East, National Secretary to the South-West, while the National Publicity Secretary and Deputy National Chairman were zoned to the South-South.
The move to adopt Turaki reflects a coordinated effort by the northern bloc to present a united front in shaping the party’s future direction.
