Ahead of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s November national convention,
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party from the North and party bigwigs from the region, have unanimously endorsed former Minister of Special Duties, Tanimu Turaki, as their consensus candidate for the position of national chairman.
Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, made this known at the end of a meeting of Northern PDP leaders held on Wednesday night in Abuja.
Fintiri, however, clarified that Turaki’s endorsement does not preclude other aspirants from contesting, stressing that the PDP’s constitution guarantees every member the right to test their popularity at the forthcoming national convention.
Although the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled October 31 to rule on whether the convention should proceed, the party has gone ahead with its preparations. Party bigwigs who attended the meeting included Governors Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara). Others were former Senate President Bukola Saraki, former Governors Ahmed Makarfi (Kaduna) and Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano), Prof Jerry Gana, and members of the National Working Committee from the North led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum.
According to Fintiri, Turaki’s endorsement aims to ensure a smooth and successful national convention.
He however added that other party positions would be discussed at the zonal level.
Already, the PDP National Executive Committee has scheduled the national convention for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.
