The endorsement of a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Tanimu Turaki (SAN) as National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party has sparked opposition from camps loyal to ex-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, and former Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike.

This is ahead of the PDP’s National Convention scheduled for November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Our correspondent also gathered that the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, has emerged as the South-West zone’s consensus candidate for the position of National Secretary.

Speaking on the issue, the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, who downplayed the disagreement, assured that efforts were being made to carry all stakeholders along.

During the PDP 102nd National Executive Committee meeting held on August 25 in Abuja, the party resolved to zone its 2027 presidential ticket to the South, while the position of National Chairman was reserved for the North.

Following this decision, Northern leaders met over the weekend and further micro-zoned the chairmanship position to the North-West.

On Wednesday, it was revealed that former Kaduna State Governor, Ahmed Makarfi; ex-Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido; and the former Minister of Special Duties, Turaki, had emerged as the leading contenders for the top seat.

The decision was expected to be finalised at a zonal stakeholders’ meeting.

The meeting, attended by key party figures including PDP Governors’ Forum Chairman and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed; Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang; Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal; PDP Board of Trustees Secretary, Ahmed Makarfi; and Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, also had in attendance former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana; and Senate Minority Leader, Abba Moro, among others.

At the end of deliberations, the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, announced on behalf of the governors and northern leaders that Turaki had been adopted as the consensus candidate for the National Chairmanship position.

He, however, clarified that any aspirant who disagreed with the consensus arrangement was free to contest at the convention.

The PDP National Organising Secretary, Umar Bature, while speaking on behalf of some northern leaders, refuted claims that the North-West had endorsed Turaki.

He stressed that no such meeting was held and that the zone would soon make public its preferred candidate.

A northern leader, who attended the meeting but spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, revealed that the rift stemmed from Lamido’s ambition to become the party’s National Chairman and Wike’s push for the position to be given 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.”

Sunday PUNCH gathered that another faction loyal to the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Wike, is backing a candidate from the North-Central and former governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

“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,” the source added.

Another senior leader of the party 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.”

A credible party leader, who also spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, told Sunday PUNCH that Arapaja had been chosen as the consensus candidate for National Secretary.

The source added that the decision was made during a recent South-West stakeholders’ meeting, initiated by the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

He stated, “You know that the position of National Secretary was micro-zoned to the South West, so the South West stakeholders met virtually. The meeting was convened by the Oyo State Governor.

“In the meeting, all positions micro-zoned to the South West were discussed. The key position of National Secretary has been settled, with the former Oyo State Deputy Governor, Arapaja, endorsed as the consensus candidate for the PDP scribe. This decision was received without any disagreement.”