PDP Northern elders endorse Turaki as party’s chairman
Ahead of the November 15 and 16 elective convention, northern caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has endorsed Taminu Turaki for the position of the party’s national chairman.
This was the outcome of the party’s caucus meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday night.
Former Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state and Umar Damagum, current national chairman of the PDP were the top contenders before the decision was taken.
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Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, while briefing journalists after the meeting, said “the caucus met to deliberate and take decision on the office of the chairman of our great party, the PDP, which was zoned to the north.
“We have reflected deeply and widely through consultation and going to Ibadan for our national convention, we have adopted a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the chairman of the PDP.
“And that gentleman is Tanimu Turaki. This is our decision this evening, and he is the person we are presenting at that convention as our chairman to represent our party on the 15 and 16 of November in Ibadan.”
Fintiri stated that the decision was taken by representatives of the 19 states in the north, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
“This is our decision, and we expect this is the lineup of our delegates in Ibadan.”
Fintiri however, said the decision does not preclude the rights of those who may still want to contest for the position at the Ibadan convention from doing so.
“We’ve been talking to ourselves, not today, not yesterday. This is a build-up of consensus in the last two weeks, and we have just a consultation, and this is just the result. And I’m assuring you that the convention will be a rancour free convention.”
The north has a total of ten positions zoned to it, ahead of the convention.
“We are not excluding anybody. But then, we have just announced to you our consensus candidate, as far as these leaders are concerned.
“Anybody who still feels he will want to contest in any position is free, and this is what our position has allowed.”
He also assured that other issues will be resolved at the regional level, and they will present their candidates along with others for us to present at the convention.
