Table of Contents
- Rejection of Consensus Candidate
- Reports of Endorsement
- Statement from North West PDP Leaders
- Concerns Over Lack of Consultation
- Issues with Internal Democracy
- Attendees of the Meeting
- Factional Divisions Within PDP
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the North West zone have rejected the reported selection of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman of the party.
This decision followed reports that northern PDP stakeholders had endorsed Turaki after a meeting led by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri.
Addressing journalists after a meeting in Abuja, North West PDP leaders stated that the alleged endorsement did not reflect the collective stance of stakeholders from the zone.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the party’s National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, accused Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal of acting independently without consulting other leaders.
Bature clarified that the governor had initially called for a meeting to discuss potential candidates for the chairmanship position designated to the North West but later postponed it and proceeded to adopt a candidate on his own.
“We want to make it clear that this zone has not selected anyone as a candidate for the PDP chairmanship. There is significant resentment due to the lack of consultation among leaders in this zone,” Bature stated.
He further added that the process contradicted the principle of consensus, emphasizing that no meeting had been conducted to determine a candidate for the region.
The leaders also questioned the validity of the so-called “open contest” when a candidate had already been pre-selected, describing it as a move that undermines internal democracy within the party.
Present at the meeting were Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido; 2023 Kaduna State governorship candidate Isa Ashiru; 2023 Katsina State candidate Garba Lado; and other party leaders from the zone.
The disagreement is believed to stem from the ongoing division within the PDP between factions loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and those aligned with the acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, ahead of the party’s convention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the reaction of the North West PDP leaders to the endorsement of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki?
The North West PDP leaders rejected the reported endorsement, stating it did not represent the collective position of stakeholders from the zone.
What concerns did the leaders express regarding the selection process?
The leaders expressed concerns about a lack of consultation and emphasized that the process contradicted the principle of consensus, undermining internal democracy within the party.
