A former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Turaki (SAN), has been elected National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Turaki emerged winner at the party’s national convention held at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, where delegates from 17 states cast their votes to elect new national officers.

Announcing the result, former Senator for Anambra Central, Sen. Ben Obi, disclosed that Turaki polled 1,516 votes, while Sen. Yakubu Danmarke scored 275. He added that 1,834 votes were cast in total, with 43 voided.

“It is therefore clear from the votes cast that Timinu Turaki has won the position of National Chairman of the PDP with a total of 1,516 votes,” he declared.

Obi also announced that Solarin Adekunle had been elected Deputy National Organising Secretary of the party.

According to the organising committee, 3,131 delegates were listed for the convention, of whom 2,745 were accredited.

Governors present at the venue included Bala Muhammed (Bauchi), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau). Those absent included Governors Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Sim Fubara (Rivers), and Agbu Kefas (Taraba).

Also in attendance were the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Abba Moro; former Osun State governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former Gombe State governor, Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo; and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sen. Adolphus Wabara, among other party chieftains.

Before voting commenced, the convention ratified the expulsion of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, and former Ekiti State governor, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, over alleged anti-party activities. The National Secretary, Mr. Samuel Anyanwu, and eight others were also expelled, while party structures in Imo, Abia, Enugu, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers states were dissolved.

The motion for the expulsion of the 11 members was moved by a chieftain of the party, Chief Bode George, who cited conduct inconsistent with the PDP’s collective interest. The motion was seconded by the PDP Chairman in Bauchi State and subsequently put to a voice vote by Governor Bala Muhammed, with the delegates adopting it unanimously.

However, minutes later, two PDP governors — Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa) and Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau) — rejected the decision.

In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou, Gov. Fintiri, who chaired the PDP 2025 Elective National Convention, said the expulsions were not in the party’s best interest.

“As a faithful party member, my position is clear: I stand for the peace and stability of the PDP, and I will not support anything that could lead to its disintegration,” he said. He urged stakeholders to prioritise reconciliation and unity.

Gov. Mutfwang similarly stated that the matter had neither been discussed by the PDP Governors’ Forum nor by the National Executive Committee (NEC), and therefore did not reflect his position. He argued that expelling key figures at a critical moment would undermine efforts to resolve the party’s internal challenges.

Calls for sanctions against Wike and others have persisted since the 2023 general elections. But in October 2024, the former Rivers governor insisted he had no regrets about his role in the presidential poll.

“For the presidential election, I said I am going to support equity, fairness, and justice. For the other elections, I supported my party, and that is why we won the governorship and National Assembly seats,” he said on Channels Television. “I did not do anti-party.”

Wike, appointed FCT Minister by President Bola Tinubu of the APC, has repeatedly accused senior PDP figures of violating the party constitution. In January 2023, he vowed to “hit back”, accusing unnamed officials of anti-party activities.

In his acceptance speech, Turaki pledged not to take the confidence reposed in him for granted. He promised to carry out his mandate faithfully and return the party to its grassroots base.

“Today, as I speak to you, the only political party that has retained its name is the Peoples Democratic Party,” he said. “This has been possible because this is the party for the Nigerian people. Make no mistake about it: we are returning the party to you. There will be no more impunity.”

He vowed to reunite the party, appeal to members who had left, and work towards “saving Nigerian democracy” and stabilising the country.

Turaki added that the party would soon unveil its guiding principles and “hit the ground running”.