Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the northern region, including governors and key stakeholders, have unanimously endorsed Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s November 15–16 National Convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.
The decision was reached during a high-level meeting in Abuja on Wednesday night, where the northern PDP governors, serving and former lawmakers, and zonal chairmen held extensive consultations to ensure unity within the party. The meeting was presided over by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who confirmed the endorsement on behalf of the northern caucus.
Governor Fintiri said the decision followed “wide consultations across the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory” and was aimed at consolidating internal harmony within the PDP ahead of next month’s crucial convention. He noted that the northern leaders resolved to speak with one voice, adding that the consensus was a demonstration of the region’s readiness to restore discipline and focus within the party.
According to Fintiri, “After wide-ranging deliberations, we have agreed to present Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman. Our decision is rooted in the need for unity, stability, and credible leadership within the PDP.”
Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a former presidential aspirant, is no stranger to national politics. He served as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs under President Goodluck Jonathan and was a prominent figure in the 2019 PDP presidential primaries, where he was commended for his maturity and statesmanship.
A respected legal luminary, Turaki hails from Kebbi State in the North-West — the sub-region to which the party has micro-zoned the chairmanship position. His supporters describe him as a “bridge-builder and consensus manager” capable of reuniting the fractured opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The zoning arrangement, which places the National Chairmanship in the North, follows the PDP’s earlier decision to reserve the 2027 presidential ticket for the South, reflecting a deliberate effort by the party to balance leadership positions between the two regions.
Despite the endorsement, Governor Fintiri clarified that other aspirants remain free to contest at the convention, emphasizing that the northern bloc’s decision was only to present a united front in the spirit of consensus and cooperation.
However, the road to the Ibadan convention remains uncertain. A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja is expected to rule on October 31 on a motion seeking to stop the convention over alleged irregularities in the zoning process. The verdict could have far-reaching implications for the PDP’s plans and internal power structure.
Political observers see the endorsement of Turaki as a strategic move to consolidate the PDP’s northern base, restore confidence among members, and project stability in the face of recent defections and internal strife. The party has, in recent months, battled leadership disputes and dwindling influence following the defection of some of its major figures to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
If eventually ratified by delegates in November, Turaki’s emergence as National Chairman could mark a turning point for the PDP, positioning him as the man to steer the party toward reconciliation and electoral recovery.
Who is Kabiru Tanimu Turaki?
Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, was born in January 1957 in Kebbi State. He is a graduate of law from the University of Jos and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1986. He became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2011, distinguishing himself as one of the country’s leading legal minds.
Beyond his professional achievements, Turaki has had a long-standing relationship with the PDP, where he served in various strategic committees and leadership roles. As a presidential aspirant in 2019, he advocated for national unity, restructuring, and inclusive governance. He is regarded within party circles as a stabilizing figure and a disciplined administrator with a reputation for integrity.
As the PDP prepares for its Ibadan convention, the North’s endorsement of Turaki signals a clear preference for experience and consensus. Yet, with internal litigation pending and rival aspirants weighing their options, the coming weeks will determine whether this consensus will hold — or whether the PDP will once again find itself at the crossroads of contention and compromise.