...“From the votes cast, it is clear that Kabiru Turaki has emerged as the National Chairman of the PDP, securing 1,516 votes,” Obi stated.
IBADAN, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, has been elected as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party.
The announcement was made on Saturday night by Senator Ben Obi, a former lawmaker representing Anambra Central, during the party’s national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Obi stated that Turaki ran unopposed after Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State, withdrew from the race.
Despite his withdrawal, Danmarke still received 275 votes from delegates, while Turaki secured 1,516 votes to clinch the chairmanship.
The former lawmaker revealed that a total of 1,834 votes were cast, with 43 votes declared invalid.
“From the votes cast, it is clear that Kabiru Turaki has emerged as the National Chairman of the PDP, securing 1,516 votes,” he stated.
Obi further announced that Solarin Sunday Adekunle won the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary with 633 votes.
The posts of National Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were withdrawn, while 17 other positions went uncontested, with their nominees declared elected.
Obi stated that a total of 3,131 delegates participated in the exercise, with 2,745 delegates formally accredited.
Governors present at the convention included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau).
However, Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) were absent.
Other notable attendees were Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Gombe State Governor Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Senator Adolphus Wabara, among others.
Previous report in August has it that the PDP National Executive Committee zoned its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, in line with the party’s rotation principle, while the national chairmanship was zoned to the North.
Ahead of the convention, key North-West stakeholders endorsed Turaki as their consensus candidate during a series of meetings held in October.
Participants in the endorsement included the governors of Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Zamfara states, along with the then Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Other prominent figures in attendance were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Information Jerry Gana, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and former Minister of Education Ibrahim Shekarau.
