Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, has been elected as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His victory was announced at the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday night by former Anambra Central lawmaker, Senator Ben Obi.
Turaki ran unopposed after the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State, Lado Danmarke, withdrew from the race.
Ahead of the convention, influential North-West stakeholders, including the governors of Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Zamfara states, as well as former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Ministers Jerry Gana and Ibrahim Shekarau, had endorsed Turaki as their consensus candidate.
Despite stepping down, Danmarke still received 275 votes, while Turaki polled 1,516 votes to clinch the chairmanship.
“It is therefore clear from the votes cast that Taminu Turaki has won the position of National Chairman of the PDP with a total of 1,516 votes,” Obi declared.
A total of 1,834 votes were cast, of which 43 were voided, while Solarin Sunday Adekunle won the position of Deputy National Organising Secretary with 633 votes.
Several positions, including National Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser, were stepped down, and 17 others were uncontested with their nominees returned elected.
“A total of 3,131 delegates participated in the exercise, while 2,745 delegates were accredited,” Obi added.
Governors present at the convention included Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), while Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba) were absent.
Other dignitaries present included Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola and Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
