NORTHERN stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Turaki, as their consensus candidate for the party’s national chairmanship ahead of its forthcoming elective convention in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Governor Umar Fintiri of Adamawa State announced the decision after a closed-door meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that while Turaki had been chosen as the preferred candidate from the North, the endorsement would not prevent other aspirants from contesting the position at the convention.
The meeting, held at the residence of former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, was attended by key party figures including Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), and Umar Fintiri (Adamawa).
Also present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and the PDP National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
The stakeholders’ consensus followed deliberations aimed at strengthening the party’s unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The PDP has scheduled its national elective convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, where members of the National Working Committee (NWC) will be elected to steer the party’s affairs for the next political cycle.
Senator Makarfi, who hosted the meeting, was himself among the northern contenders for the chairmanship seat alongside former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido and other prominent party leaders.
Governor Fintiri reiterated that the consensus arrangement was intended to promote internal harmony but maintained that it would not exclude any aspirant wishing to test their popularity at the convention.