A new leader has emerged in the Peoples Democratic Party as former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Taminu Turaki, was chosen as the party’s National Chairman on Saturday night at the PDP national convention in Ibadan, Oyo State. The announcement was made after delegates concluded voting at the venue of the convention, which is holding from November 15 to 16.
Turaki became the sole contender for the office after Katsina State’s 2023 governorship candidate, Lado Danmarke, stepped down from the race earlier in the day. Even though he withdrew, Danmarke still received 275 votes from delegates, while Turaki secured 1,516 votes to take the top party seat. A total of 1,834 votes were recorded, with 43 declared invalid.
Other results were also released during the event. Solarin Sunday Adekunle was chosen as Deputy National Organising Secretary with 633 votes. The positions of National Youth Leader and Deputy National Legal Adviser were put on hold, while 17 other offices had no challengers and their nominees were returned elected.
The convention recorded 3,131 delegates, with 2,745 accredited for voting. Several governors were present, including Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau. Some governors were not at the convention, such as Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, and Agbu Kefas of Taraba.
Also in attendance were senior party figures such as Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, former Osun State Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, former Gombe State Governor Senator Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara.
Turaki’s emergence followed earlier zoning decisions taken by the party in August, when the PDP National Executive Committee assigned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the national chairmanship to the North. In October, key North-West leaders held meetings where they jointly backed Turaki as their preferred candidate. Those involved in the endorsement included governors of Bauchi, Plateau, Adamawa, and Zamfara, as well as former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister Jerry Gana, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and former Minister Ibrahim Shekarau.
The convention continued with party activities as delegates and leaders shaped the next phase of the PDP’s national leadership.