Kabiru Turaki emerges PDP national chairman, vows to end impunity, rebuild party

Kabiru Turaki emerges PDP national chairman, vows to end impunity, rebuild party

 

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki, as its new national chairman, with a mandate to restore discipline and reposition the opposition party ahead of future elections.

Turaki emerged on Saturday at the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, where he polled 1,516 votes as the sole contender for the top office. His emergence followed the withdrawal of Lado Danmarke, the party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina State, who still garnered 275 votes despite stepping down.

Other positions filled at the convention include that of Solarin Sunday Adekunle, who secured 633 votes to become Deputy National Organising Secretary. While the contests for Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were stepped down, 17 other offices were returned unopposed. As customary in the party’s zoning arrangement, the chairmanship position was ceded to the North.

Turaki’s candidacy had received strong backing from key PDP stakeholders in the North-West, including Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum. Also present at the endorsement meetings were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Jerry Gana, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and former Education Minister Ibrahim Shekarau.

In his acceptance speech, Turaki acknowledged the enormity of the task before the new National Working Committee, promising an aggressive reform agenda aimed at rebuilding trust among party members and Nigerians.

“We are not under any illusion that the task placed on us is a simple one. Our party is at a crossroads, but we are up to the challenge,” he said. “Very soon, we will unveil our guiding principles and operational blueprint. Once we do, we will hit the ground running from day one.”

He stressed that the PDP remains the only Nigerian political party that has retained its identity since inception — a testament, he said, to its grassroots appeal.

“This is the party of the Nigerian people,” Turaki declared. “Make no mistake about it — we are returning the party to you, the people. There will be no more impunity.”