Former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki has been elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at the party’s 2025 elective National Convention in Ibadan, securing a decisive mandate from delegates.
Turaki garnered 1,516 votes, comfortably defeating his closest rival, Senator Lado, who received 275 votes, reflecting strong support across the party’s national leadership.
Delegates described his election as a unifying moment, coming after weeks of speculation over the PDP’s leadership.
The convention, however, was preceded by significant internal upheaval. On the day of the election, the PDP expelled former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose, and several other senior figures for alleged anti-party activities.
The expulsions sparked intense debate within the party, with some factions advocating reconciliation while others welcomed the decisive action to restore discipline.
In a related move to ensure a transparent voting process, the PDP also dissolved its ward, local government, and state-level structures in five states-Imo, Akwa Ibom, Enugu, Abia, and Rivers.
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Also elected is Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja as National Secretary, among others others at the convention.
The convention, attended by over 3,000 delegates from across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, marks a pivotal step toward party unity and renewal ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The proceedings, which commenced on November 15 and spanned into the early hours of November 16, unfolded with remarkable efficiency and enthusiasm.
Senator Ben Obi, overseeing the electoral processes, guided delegates through a transparent voting mechanism that underscored the PDP’s commitment to democratic principles.
Turaki’s emergence as National Chairman was near-unanimous, following the withdrawal of rival aspirant Senator Yakubu Lado, positioning him as the consensus candidate to lead the party into its next phase of resurgence as the 2027 elections draw near.