BREAKING: Jonathan’s Minister Turaki Emerges New PDP National Chairman

BREAKING: Jonathan’s Minister Turaki Emerges New PDP National Chairman

 

 

 

A former Minister of Special Duties in the Goodluck Jonathan administration, Tanimu Turaki, has emerged as the new National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

 

Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, emerged through consensus.

 

The governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, announced the decision of PDP stakeholders to settle for Turaki on Wednesday night, at 10:45 pm.

 

The announcement was made after a marathon stakeholders’ meeting at a private residence in the Maitama district, Abuja.

 

According to Governor Fintiri, the new PDP National Chairman emerged after extensive consultations among PDP leaders and stakeholders in the three geopolitical zones in the North — North West, North East and North Central. Turaki is from Kebbi State, in the North West zone.

 

Among those at the stakeholders meeting where the decision was taken were the incumbent PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum; Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; and former Information Minister, Prof Jerry Gana.

 

 

Others at the meeting were former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi; Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, among others.

 

The Adamawa Governor, who is the chairman of the PDP National Convention Planning and Organising Committee, said Turaki’s nomination as chairman will be ratified at the national convention.

 

The convention is slated for November 15-16 in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, where a new set of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) is expected to be picked, also through consensus.

 

 

If Turaki’s nomination is eventually ratified at the convention, he and other emerging members of the new NWC would not assume duties until the expiration of the tenure of the Damagum-led executive in December.

 

Governor Fintiri, however, said the nomination of Turaki as chairman did not stop other persons interested in the position from contesting for it at the Ibadan convention.

 

 

A former Kaduna State Governor, Makarfi, and a former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, are also reported to be interested in the chairmanship.

 

But while Makarfi attended the Wednesday night meeting where Turaki’s nomination was announced, Lamido did not show up.

 

The party’s convention has become a matter for litigation. Three aggrieved stakeholders have taken the PDP to court, seeking to stop the exercise.

 

The plaintiffs are the chairman of the PDP Imo State chapter, Austin Nwachukwu; his Abia State counterpart, Amah Nnanna; and the PDP Secretary for the South-South, Turnah George.

 

The plaintiffs are challenging the decision of the party to hold the convention, citing non-compliance with provisions of the Nigerian constitution and the Electoral Act 2022.

 

The presiding judge, James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has adjourned the case till October 31 for judgment.

 

 

The judge, before adjourning the case, had ordered parties in dispute to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending the final determination of the matter.