 in the North-West zone have dismissed the reported endorsement of former Minister){kind=link}
Leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the North-West zone have dismissed the reported endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus candidate for the party’s national chairmanship ahead of the November convention.
At a press conference in Abuja on Friday, the PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, speaking on behalf of North-West stakeholders, described Turaki’s endorsement as “unilateral, undemocratic, and without legitimacy.”
According to Bature, the zone was never consulted before the announcement made by the Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, who on Wednesday declared that northern leaders and governors had adopted Turaki as the consensus candidate.
“The truth is that the North-West has not convened any meeting to take a collective decision on this matter,” Bature said.
“It is unfair and politically insensitive for others to speak on behalf of our zone without our consent.”
He maintained that true consensus in a democratic party must emerge from genuine consultation and not from a few individuals acting independently.
“Consensus is built, not imposed,” Bature continued.
“We were neither informed nor involved in any discussion leading to that so-called endorsement. Therefore, we reject it in totality.”
Bature also accused certain northern leaders of attempting to sideline key stakeholders from the North-West, warning that the zone would resist any external attempt to impose a candidate on them.
“The North-West remains the backbone of the PDP, and we will not allow anyone to undermine our voice,” he declared.
“Our delegates and leaders will meet soon to agree on our preferred choice, and that decision will stand.”
Other notable PDP figures from the zone, including former National Secretary Ibrahim Tsauri; Mustapha Lamido, son of former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido; and Kaduna’s 2023 governorship candidate, Isah Ashiru Kudan, were also present at the briefing.
The controversy follows the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) decision at its 102nd meeting in August, which zoned the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the national chairmanship to the North. The position was later micro-zoned to the North-West.
Meanwhile, political observers say the disagreement underscores widening cracks within the PDP’s northern bloc, as different factions jostle for control of key leadership positions ahead of the next general elections.
A senior party source disclosed that the North-West’s rejection of Turaki’s endorsement may complicate the party’s internal peace efforts.
“What we are seeing is a battle for influence within the PDP’s strongest voting region,” the source said. “If not handled carefully, it could deepen existing divisions before 2027.”
With the convention drawing closer, all eyes are now on the North-West PDP leaders as they prepare to unveil their own candidate, one they say will “truly represent the will of the people in the zone.”