Former Minister of Special Duties and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Tanimu Turaki, has emerged as the consensus candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leaders from the North for the position of National Chairman ahead of the party’s forthcoming national convention.
The endorsement reportedly came after a series of consultative meetings among key stakeholders of the party across the 19 northern states, culminating in a final agreement reached on Wednesday night in Abuja.
Party insiders said the decision was driven by a desire to present a united northern front and avoid internal divisions ahead of the PDP’s national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State, next month.
A northern PDP chieftain who spoke to reporters after the meeting said Turaki’s experience and calm disposition were major factors that swayed the leaders’ decision in his favour.
“After wide consultations, we all agreed that Turaki stands out in terms of experience, capacity, and acceptability across the different zones. The North has spoken with one voice, and we believe this will strengthen our position going into the convention,” the source said.
Turaki, a lawyer and former presidential aspirant, served as Minister of Special Duties under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. He is regarded within the party as a bridge-builder and loyal member with strong ties across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
Although the PDP has not officially announced the endorsement, the development is expected to shape the dynamics of the upcoming convention, where delegates will elect new national officers to steer the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Efforts to reach the party’s National Publicity Secretary for confirmation were unsuccessful as of press time.
