The Kebbi State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has disowned the reported endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the northern consensus candidate for the party’s national chairmanship position.
This was disclosed after an emergency meeting held in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, where the state chapter issued a communiqué through its Publicity Secretary, Sani Dododo, expressing alignment with the stance of PDP stakeholders in the North-West region.
The statement noted that the decision by PDP governors to adopt Turaki was made without consulting the Kebbi State chapter, and therefore, the state party leadership completely rejected the move.
“Kabiru Tanimu has never consulted the Kebbi State chapter of the party about his intention to contest. He has not been involved in any of the party’s activities in the state,” Dododo stated.
“At no time, not a day, not a minute, not even a second did Kabiru Tanimu visit Kebbi to seek support or consult any stakeholder or elder of the party,” he added, stressing the chapter’s displeasure at being excluded from such a major decision.
The state leadership reaffirmed its commitment to the collective position of North-West PDP stakeholders that every state within the region should have the right to deliberate and select a candidate suitable to represent its interests under the party’s zoning arrangement.
“The Kebbi State chapter, therefore, totally rejects the decision to adopt the former Minister of Special Duties as the party’s consensus candidate,” the communiqué concluded.
Northern PDP stakeholders had earlier endorsed Turaki as the consensus candidate for the national chairmanship ahead of the party’s elective convention scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Speaking to journalists after a closed-door meeting in Abuja, the Governor of Adamawa State, Umar Fintiri, clarified that the decision to settle on a consensus candidate did not prevent other aspirants from joining the race.
The consensus agreement was reached during a meeting attended by the governors of Adamawa, Bauchi, Zamfara, and Plateau States, alongside former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Abba Moro, PDP National Chairman Umar Damagum, and other northern party leaders.
The PDP’s national elective convention is slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, where new members of the National Working Committee (NWC) will be elected to steer the party’s affairs ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What you should know
The Kebbi State PDP has rejected the endorsement of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as the northern consensus candidate for national chairman, citing lack of consultation and participation in state party affairs.
The decision deepens internal disagreements ahead of the party’s national convention in November, where leadership positions will be contested.
