Party insiders yesterday revealed that northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) settled on former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus choice for the position of national chairman to reflect the region’s internal zoning balance and demonstrate a desire to stabilise the opposition ahead of its November convention.

Sources at the stakeholders’ meeting, which lasted late into Wednesday night in Abuja, said the choice of Turaki was unanimous after weeks of consultations among leaders across the North and other blocs in the party.

The meeting, chaired by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, reportedly agreed that Turaki, from Kebbi State, best fits the rotational arrangement that favours the Sokoto–Kebbi–Zamfara sub-bloc in the North West.

According to one of the sources, Zamfara is already represented at the national level by a PDP governor, while Sokoto previously held the position of national organising secretary.

“That leaves Kebbi as the next in line for a major slot, and this gave Turaki an edge,” he explained.

He added that, within the sub-zones, Kano and Jigawa are grouped together, Kaduna and Katsina share another bloc, while Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara form the third.

Other northern contenders earlier mentioned for the post included former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi, former Jigawa governor Sule Lamido, ex-Information Minister Professor Jerry Gana, former Kano governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and former Benue governor Samuel Ortom. However, after initial lobbying by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed for Shekarau, consensus shifted firmly toward Turaki.

The source said leaders from the North Central zone, including Gana and Ortom, were urged by some southern allies of the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to contest but declined out of respect for the North’s zoning balance.

“They understand how the formula works. Wike, who is from the South, may not. But in the North, it is an accepted arrangement,” he said.

He also noted that the North Central recently produced Senator Iyorchia Ayu as national chairman, making it difficult for that zone to lay fresh claim to the seat so soon after Ayu’s controversial exit.

“This is the first time the North West, through Kebbi, will be producing the national chairman. Dr. Bello Haliru once held it only in acting capacity after Ekwesilieze Nwodo’s suspension,” the source recalled.

Wike camp keeps mum

Efforts to reach members of the Wike camp, who are reportedly opposed to the current National Working Committee, were unsuccessful. Dan Orbih, a known ally of the FCT minister, could not be reached for comment.

However, a source close to the group said the minister would address the matter during his scheduled media briefing on Friday.

“No one wants to speak before our leader does. He’ll definitely react,” the source said.

BoT dismisses Anyanwu’s forgery claim

Meanwhile, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) has dismissed allegations by National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu that his signature was forged on letters to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) regarding the convention.

BoT chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara in a statement yesterday described the claim as “baseless and misleading,” stating that the INEC notification letter was jointly signed by acting National Chairman Ambassador Umar Damagum and Anyanwu during the party’s 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on August 25, 2025.

Wabara said the signing occurred in the presence of key party organs, including governors, BoT members, and NEC delegates. He added that Anyanwu also co-signed other official correspondence in his capacity as secretary of the convention’s Contact and Mobilization Subcommittee.

“These verifiable documents bearing his signature are in our custody,” Wabara said. “His forgery claim is inconsistent with the record of events and an attempt to cast aspersions on the party’s leadership.”

The BoT reaffirmed that the PDP remains “cohesive, resolute, and committed to transparency” ahead of its elective convention slated for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, describing the exercise as one that would strengthen internal democracy within the opposition party. (Daily Trust)