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BREAKING: PDP Elects Ex-Minister Kabiru Turaki As National Chairman After Convention Drama In Ibadan
The election, held on Saturday during the party’s national convention at the historic Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, saw Turaki—who emerged as the sole candidate—coast home with 1,516 votes.
Ibadan, Oyo State– The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, as its new National Chairman, sealing a crucial phase in the opposition party’s internal realignment ahead of the 2027 elections.
The election, held on Saturday during the party’s national convention at the historic Liberty Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, saw Turaki—who emerged as the sole candidate—coast home with 1,516 votes.
His emergence followed the unexpected withdrawal of Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State.
However, despite pulling out of the race, Danmarke still garnered 275 votes, a development insiders say reflects underlying grievances among some northern blocs.
Another highlight of the convention was the election of Solarin Sunday Adekunle, who secured 633 votes to clinch the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary.
Party officials said the positions of Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were stepped down, while the remaining 17 national offices—all unopposed—were returned elected.
In August, the PDP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South in a bid to keep internal power rotation intact. Consequently, the national chairmanship was zoned to the North, paving the way for Turaki’s smooth ride.
Meanwhile, a powerful bloc of North-West stakeholders held a series of meetings in October where they adopted Turaki as their consensus candidate, effectively shutting down early agitation for a contest.
Those at the meetings included influential PDP heavyweights such as Bala Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; and Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
Also in attendance were former Senate President Bukola Saraki; elder statesman Jerry Gana; Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro; and former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau, among others—signalling broad elite support for Turaki.
Turaki, a senior lawyer and long-time party strategist, will now steer the PDP through a turbulent political landscape marked by defections, dwindling national influence, and the urgent need to rebuild grassroots structures.
With the convention now concluded, the PDP leadership is expected to immediately begin consultations on reconciliation, membership drive, and possible alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle.
