The camps loyal to former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, and Minister of the Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, are reportedly opposing the endorsement of a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Naija News recalls that Northern leaders of PDP recently threw their weight behind Turaki, despite the emergence of former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi, ex-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, as the leading contenders for the top seat.
Turaki’s endorsement came during a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja, attended by top PDP figures, including Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, and the party’s acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum.
Speaking on the issue, a northern leader, who spoke on condition of anonymity to Punch, revealed that the northern blocs are in disagreement over the decision to unveil Turaki as the consensus candidate for National Chairman.
According to the northern leader, the rift stemmed from Lamido’s ambition to become the party’s National Chairman and Wike’s push to give the position to someone from the North-Central.
He stated, “As we speak, the PDP northern blocs are not on the same page, and this has caused agitation among members. The main drivers of this division are some groups, including a few former state chairmen and ex-governorship aspirants, who are backing Lamido for the position of PDP National Chairman.
“There is growing discontent over the decision by some northern governors and leaders to unveil Turaki (SAN) as the consensus candidate for National Chairman. Lamido’s supporters are aggrieved by this development.”
Similarly, another faction loyal to Wike said the Minister is backing a candidate from the North-Central, former Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom.
The source added, “Both the Lamido group and the Wike camp are strongly opposed to the selection of Turaki as the consensus candidate for PDP National Chairman ahead of the forthcoming convention. They have been holding meetings, addressing press conferences and moving to discredit the process and promoting their preferred aspirants.”
Another senior leader in PDP attributed the growing opposition to the failure of northern governors to engage in broad consultations before making their position public.
He stated, “There is no smoke without fire. What you see playing out is as a result of a lack of wider consultation. The people in the North, especially some stakeholders in the North Central and North West, felt slighted and disrespected that they were not consulted by the governors and some northern leaders who announced Turaki as a northern consensus candidate for the position of national chairman.
“The governors are leaders in their own right, in their zones and in their states. They have some level of influence and control in the party and beyond. That is a known fact. But some of these leaders felt they should be accorded some level of respect too.
“And they should be consulted in processes like this. So, that’s why you are hearing all this. People who are supporting Lamido and people who want somebody from the North Central to be chairman are those who are making all this noise. But with time, because it’s a democratic party, we are optimistic that all these things will reduce. The situation and positions in the party will be harmonized. The party will be united. They will go with a united front to the convention. The party will bounce back to power come 2027. So, that is the situation.”