The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has chosen Kabiru Turaki, former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its new national chairman.
The election was conducted on Saturday during the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
Turaki, who emerged as the only contender for the party’s top leadership seat, received 1,516 votes.
His emergence came after Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 governorship candidate in Katsina, withdrew from the contest.
Despite pulling out, Danmarke still garnered 275 votes.
Solarin Sunday Adekunle secured 633 votes to be elected deputy national organising secretary.
The offices of youth leader and deputy national legal adviser were stepped down, while the remaining 17 positions saw unopposed candidates returned elected.
In August, the PDP national executive committee (NEC) zoned the presidential ticket to the south.
Consequently, in keeping with the party’s zoning principles, the national chairmanship was allocated to the north.
During meetings held in October, several north-west stakeholders endorsed Turaki as their consensus aspirant.
Attendees included Bauchi governor Bala Mohammed; Plateau governor Caleb Mutfwang; Adamawa governor Ahmadu Fintiri; Zamfara governor Dauda Lawal; and Umar Damagum.
Others present were former Senate President Bukola Saraki; former minister of information Jerry Gana; senate minority leader Abba Moro; and former education minister Ibrahim Shekarau, among others.