A wave of support is sweeping across the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) following the appointment of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, as the party’s new National Chairman.
The move, ratified at a high-level meeting in Abuja, has been widely interpreted as a strategic effort to strengthen unity, promote fairness, and ensure regional balance within the party.
The PDP leadership recently zoned the national chairmanship position to the North-West, paving the way for Turaki’s emergence as the consensus candidate.
Party stakeholders view this as a deliberate step to reaffirm the PDP’s commitment to inclusive governance and its broader philosophy of equity and justice in power-sharing.
In Lagos, Chief Sunday Olaifa, a key stakeholder and aspirant for the state party chairmanship, commended the decision.
He described it as a “timely intervention” that would enhance internal democracy and reinforce the party’s focus ahead of the next general elections.
“Our party needs a unifying figure, someone who is loyal, respected, and capable of leading by example,” Olaifa stated.
“Kabiru Tanimu Turaki embodies those qualities. His leadership will help strengthen the PDP’s internal cohesion and improve its electoral chances nationwide.”
Olaifa cautioned against those attempting to oppose the consensus arrangement, warning that such actions could destabilise the party’s progress.
Meanwhile, Mallam Umar Sani, former Senior Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to ex-Vice President Namadi Sambo, jas expressed concerns over what he described as “a calculated conspiracy by some Northern politicians, allegedly in collaboration with a Southern ally, to discredit Turaki’s emergence”.
In a statement titled “The Charade of a Northwest Meeting”, Sani accused these elements of plotting to “destabilise and weaken” the PDP’s unity.
He emphasised that the position of National Chairman transcends regional politics and must be treated as a symbol of national representation.
“The history of PDP leadership has always been built on consensus and credibility.
“Leaders like Solomon Lar and Adamu Mu’azu emerged through transparent processes and the collective will of the party, not through sectional manipulation,” Sani said.
He urged members to uphold the party’s founding ideals and resist divisive tendencies that could derail its rebuilding efforts.
A senior PDP member from the South-South region, who requested anonymity, echoed similar sentiments.
He noted that the controversy surrounding Turaki’s appointment is not about the man himself but about the battle for control within the party.
“No credible evidence has been presented against Turaki.
“What we’re seeing is a smear campaign by individuals who have little interest in the PDP’s long-term stability,” the source said.
He urged the leadership to remain vigilant, stressing that unity and internal discipline are essential as the party prepares for its national elective convention in November, scheduled to take place in Ibadan, Oyo State.
As the convention draws closer, all eyes are on how the PDP manages its internal politics.
The Ibadan convention is widely seen as a defining moment, one that could either consolidate the party’s unity or expose deep-seated divisions within its ranks.
Political observers believe that a united PDP under Turaki’s chairmanship would pose a formidable challenge to the ruling party ahead of the next general elections.
The coming weeks, therefore, will be critical in determining whether the party can translate its renewed consensus into a cohesive strategy for political resurgence.
