Ibadan convention: Kabiru Turaki elected PDP national chairman

Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and former Minister of Special Duties, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, following a highly controversial national convention held on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The convention, which drew delegates from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, was overshadowed by sharp disagreements over zoning arrangements, accreditation delays, and alleged last-minute manoeuvres by rival factions. Security operatives were deployed in large numbers around the venue as repeated confrontations among opposing blocs threatened to disrupt the exercise.

Turaki, who became the sole candidate after the withdrawal of Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State, polled 1,516 votes to clinch the top position of the main opposition party.

In his acceptance speech, Turaki pledged to prioritise reconciliation, unity, and restructuring within the crisis-ridden party.

“We must rebuild trust and restore unity. This mandate is for the collective renewal of our great party,” he told delegates, assuring that he would reposition the PDP ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Party leaders, including governors, National Assembly members, and former National Working Committee officials, appealed to aggrieved members to accept the outcome and join hands with the new leadership. However, some factions immediately rejected the process, alleging irregularities and vowing to challenge the outcome through internal party mechanisms.

The Ibadan convention capped weeks of legal battles, as several founding members obtained court injunctions seeking to halt the event over alleged injustices in the zoning and selection processes, particularly regarding the national chairmanship.

Turaki is expected to begin consultations immediately as he moves to stabilise the PDP’s national structure and address long-standing internal disputes.

DAILYPOST