Former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been elected as the National Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
The election took place at the party’s national convention on Saturday at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, Oyo State, with delegates from 17 states casting votes.
Senator Ben Obi, heading the election subcommittee, said Turaki scored 1,516 votes, defeating Senator Yakubu Danmarke, who garnered 275 votes.
A total of 1,834 votes were cast, with 43 voided. “It is therefore clear from the votes cast that Timinu Turaki has won the position of the National Chairman of the PDP with a total of 1,516 votes,” Obi declared.
Solarin Adekunle emerged as Deputy National Organizing Secretary, while 3,131 delegates participated and 2,745 were accredited.
Expulsions and Dissolved Party Structures Spark Debate
Before voting commenced, the party took several far-reaching decisions, including expelling the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, former Ekiti Governor Ayodele Fayose, National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others, accusing them of anti-party activities and fostering disunity through litigation.
Chief Bode George, a PDP chieftain and life member of the party’s board of trustees, moved the motion for expulsion, citing actions inconsistent with the party’s collective interest.
“Those involved have acted against the party’s constitution and undermined our unity,” he said. Governor Bala Muhammed (Bauchi) seconded the motion, which was unanimously accepted.
However, Governors Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) dissented, stressing the need for reconciliation and dialogue. “As a faithful party member, I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration,” Fintiri said.
As I said in my remarks at the PDP Elective National Convention #Ibadan2025 which commenced yesterday and was concluded early this morning, this convention will go down in history as the convention that brought the turnaround to our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party… pic.twitter.com/Imy7xX3xK3
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) November 16, 2025
Mutfwang added, “Expelling these leaders now is not a strategic step toward resolving the challenges confronting the PDP.”
The party also dissolved party’s state structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states.
New Chairman Vows to Rebuild Party
In his acceptance speech, Turaki, 54, hailing from Kebbi State, vowed to restore the PDP’s credibility and reunite the party.
“Today, as I talk to you, the only political party that has retained its name is the People’s Democratic Party. This has been possible because this is the party for the Nigerian people. Make no mistake about it; we are returning the party to you, the people. There will be no more impunity,” he declared.
He added that the party would soon release guiding principles and begin efforts to strengthen democracy and national cohesion.
The convention also saw the presence of key politicians including Governors Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), as well as former governors Olagunsoye Oyinlola (Osun) and Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe), Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, and PDP Board of Trustees Chairman Senator Adolphus Wabara.
Before the convention, there were a flurry of court orders in support and ordering against holding the convention. Wike himself has dismissed his expulsion, saying the main opposition party chose to hold “Detty December in November”.
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