The Kebbi State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party has distanced itself from the reported adoption of former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, as the Northern consensus candidate for the position of the PDP National Chairman.
Rising from an emergency meeting held in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday, the state chapter declared that it was neither consulted nor in support of the decision reportedly taken by some PDP governors from the region.
In a communiqué read to newsmen, the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Sani Dododo, said the Kebbi PDP stands firmly with the position of the North West PDP stakeholders who had earlier rejected the purported endorsement.
Dododo noted that Kabiru Tanimu has not shown any commitment or involvement in the affairs of the party at the state level, stressing that his sudden emergence as a consensus candidate came as a surprise to party members in Kebbi.
According to him, “At no time, not a day, not a minute, not even a second, did Kabiru Tanimu visit Kebbi to consult with any stakeholder, leader, or elder of our party. “He has never informed us of his intention to contest, nor has he contributed to party activities in the state.”
He further stated that the Kebbi PDP unanimously supports the North West PDP’s resolution that each state should have the autonomy to deliberate and nominate a candidate in accordance with the party’s zoning arrangement.
“The Kebbi State Chapter, therefore, totally rejects the decision to adopt the former minister as the Northern consensus candidate. We reaffirm our commitment to due process and collective decision-making within the party,” Dododo added.
The contest for the position of the PDP National Chairman has intensified in recent weeks following internal consultations among the party’s governors and key stakeholders. With the current chairman’s tenure winding down, discussions have been ongoing about zoning the seat to the North, in line with the PDP’s rotational leadership principle.
Reports earlier this week indicated that some Northern PDP governors had endorsed Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and former presidential aspirant, as the region’s consensus candidate. However, the move has sparked dissent in parts of the North West, where several state chapters, including Kebbi, argue that the decision was made without broad consultation.
Party watchers say the development reflects the widening internal rift within the PDP as it seeks to reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections. Stakeholders in the zone are reportedly pushing for wider consultations to ensure inclusiveness and strengthen party unity before a final decision is reached on the national chairmanship slot.
