Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) North West zone have rejected the reported adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the zone’s consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman.
The North West PDP leaders, speaking after a meeting in Abuja, stated that the alleged endorsement, which followed reports of a northern stakeholders’ meeting led by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri, does not represent the collective position of their zone.
Speaking for the group, PDP National Organising Secretary Umar Bature accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of acting unilaterally and without consulting other leaders. Bature explained that Governor Lawal had initially called a meeting to discuss chairmanship candidates for the North West zone but later postponed it, yet proceeded to adopt Turaki on his own.
Bature stressed, “We want to make it clear that this zone has not adopted anybody as a candidate for the PDP chairmanship.” He cited “a lot of resentment due to lack of consultation” and argued the process was inconsistent with the principle of consensus since no regional meeting had been held to decide on a candidate. The leaders further questioned the credibility of an “open contest” when a candidate had already been handpicked, calling the move an undermining of the party’s internal democracy.
The disagreement is reportedly tied to the ongoing division within the PDP between factions loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and those aligned with acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, ahead of the party’s convention.
About The Author
