The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has elected Kabiru Turaki, former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its national chairman.
The election took place on Saturday during the party’s national convention in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Turaki, who was the sole candidate for the top position of the main opposition party, secured 1,516 votes.
His emergence followed the earlier withdrawal of Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina state.
Despite pulling out of the race, Danmarke still received 275 votes.
Solarin Sunday Adekunle polled 633 votes to emerge as the deputy national organising secretary.
The positions of youth leader and deputy national legal adviser were stepped down, while the remaining 17 positions were unopposed and therefore returned elected.
In August, the PDP national executive committee (NEC) zoned its presidential ticket to the south.
In line with party tradition, the national chairmanship was zoned to the north.
During a series of meetings in October, some north-west stakeholders adopted Turaki as their consensus candidate.
Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; and Umar Damagum were present at the meeting.
Others in attendance included former Senate President Bukola Saraki; Jerry Gana, former minister of information; Abba Moro, senate minority leader; and Ibrahim Shekarau, former minister of education, among others.
