Amid mounting uncertainty ahead of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention slated for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, northern leaders of the party have endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as their consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman.

The announcement was made late Wednesday night in Abuja by Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, who also serves as Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee (NCOC).

Fintiri disclosed that Turaki emerged following extensive consultations with leaders from the 19 northern states and the Federal Capital Territory, adding that the decision reflects the zone’s collective resolve to strengthen party unity ahead of the convention.

“We have met this evening to deliberate and take a decision on the office of the Chairman of our great party, which was zoned to the North,” Fintiri told journalists after the meeting.

“In our consultations, we reflected deeply and resolved to adopt a consensus candidate to represent the North, and by extension, Nigeria, as the National Chairman of the PDP.

“That gentleman is K.T. Turaki, SAN. This is our decision, and we are presenting him at the convention for that position,” he added.

Fintiri, however, clarified that the process remains open to any aspirant who wishes to contest, stressing that consensus was reached purely in the spirit of unity.

“Anybody who feels the need to contest is free to do so. The door is open. Ours is a democratic party, and we are not excluding anyone,” he said.

Turaki, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and prominent legal scholar, is widely respected for his expertise in constitutional law, election petition litigation, international arbitration, and commercial practice.

He previously served as Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, as well as Supervising Minister of Labour and Productivity under former President Goodluck Jonathan.

His emergence followed the PDP’s decision at its 102nd National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Abuja on August 25 to zone the 2027 presidential ticket to the South and the National Chairmanship to the North.

The chairmanship slot was subsequently micro-zoned to the North-West, with Turaki, former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi, and ex-Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido earlier reported as leading contenders.

Present at Wednesday’s meeting were key party figures, including Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal, Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Minister of Information Professor Jerry Gana, and Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro.

The northern endorsement comes at a time of heightened anxiety within the PDP over growing internal discord, defections, and pending court cases threatening to derail the forthcoming convention.

Despite repeated assurances from National Chairman Umar Damagum and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that the convention remains sacrosanct, the party’s preparations have been dogged by litigation, leadership disputes, and rebellion among key stakeholders.

Four PDP governors — Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Peter Mbah (Enugu) —have defected to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2025 alone, a development that has weakened the party’s organisational structure and morale.

The defection of Governor Mbah, who served as Secretary of the Convention Organising Committee, was particularly destabilising, forcing the appointment of Senator Ben Obi as his replacement.

Party insiders have since questioned the neutrality of previous zoning arrangements, especially as Diri, who chaired the zoning committee before his defection, was accused of bias.

A member of the PDP NEC, who spoke anonymously, blamed the party’s turmoil on external manipulation, accusing the APC of orchestrating divisions.

“Since 2015, the APC has infiltrated our ranks and deliberately destabilised our structures. The National Chairman, National Secretary, Legal Adviser, and even top financiers are now working at cross purposes. It’s a calculated attempt to weaken us before 2027,” the source alleged.

The internal turmoil worsened after the indefinite postponement of the PDP’s 103rd NEC meeting earlier scheduled for October 15.

The decision followed a restraining order issued by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, directing all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of a suit challenging the legality of the planned convention.

The suit, filed by Imo PDP Chairman Austin Nwachukwu, Abia PDP Chairman Amah Abraham Nnanna, and South-South PDP Secretary Turnah Alabah George, accuses the Damagum-led National Working Committee of violating the party’s constitution and internal election guidelines.

Justice Omotosho warned that any attempt to proceed with convention-related activities could attract “consequential sanctions,” setting the next hearing for October 20.

The legal tussle has been further complicated by a leadership dispute involving the party’s National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), and Chief Chris Uche (SAN), both of whom claim to represent the PDP in court. A letter signed by 14 NWC members on October 16 reaffirmed Uche’s appointment, though Ajibade insists only a national convention can remove him.

Meanwhile, the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, had petitioned the Inspector General of Police, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the Department of State Services (DSS), alleging that his signature was forged on the August 29 letter notifying INEC of the planned convention.

The PDP leadership, however, dismissed his claim and backed a police investigation into the matter, a development that has deepened suspicion and factional mistrust.

Wike’s camp issues conditions

It would be recalled that in a separate twist, loyalists of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, issued a set of conditions for their participation in the convention.

Meeting under the banner of “Eminent Leaders and Concerned Stakeholders of the PDP,” the group, which includes former governors Samuel Ortom, Ayodele Fayose, Okezie Ikpeazu, and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, rejected the micro-zoning of the National Chairmanship to the North-West and insisted that it remain in the North-Central.

They also demanded the reinstatement of the South-South zonal congress results, fresh congresses in Ebonyi and Anambra, and reversal of the removal of Dan Orbih as National Vice Chairman (South-South).

Wike, while affirming loyalty to the PDP, warned that failure to address these grievances could render the convention illegitimate.

“Let the issues be resolved first. The South-South congress must be upheld. Dan Orbih remains our vice chairman,” Wike declared.

But the party’s spokesman, Debo Ologunagba, dismissed the demands, insisting that “no individual or group can issue conditions to the PDP.”

He maintained that loyalty to the party’s constitution remains non-negotiable and warned that disciplinary action would be taken against erring members.

“There are consequences for disloyalty. Section 10(6) of our constitution is clear, no member can align with another political party while retaining membership of the PDP,” he cautioned.

As the convention date approaches, the PDP faces one of its toughest internal challenges since losing power in 2015. With defections, court orders, and factional bickering threatening its stability, the party’s ability to hold a credible and peaceful convention in Ibadan now hangs in the balance.

Whether the endorsement of Turaki as Northern consensus candidate can restore confidence or merely paper over deep cracks remains to be seen. For now, Nigeria’s oldest opposition party stands at a defining crossroads between revival and further fragmentation.