By Ahmed Rufai
The Jigawa State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has faulted the endorsement of former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the consensus candidate for the position of National Chairman, describing the move as a betrayal of northern interest.
Speaking on a Hausa-language political programme on Sawaba Radio, PDP State Chairman, Dr. Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, said the endorsement by the party’s northern caucus did not follow due process and sidelined key stakeholders in the North West zone.
According to him, the caucus had resolved in its last meeting that the position of National Chairman be zoned to the North West, with stakeholders from the region mandated to produce a consensus candidate.
“Based on that directive, we scheduled our meeting for Thursday under the chairmanship of the Zamfara State Governor. But to our surprise, those who gave the directive went ahead on Wednesday to announce their preferred candidate without consulting us,” Dr. Gumel stated.
He further disclosed that former Jigawa State Governor Dr. Sule Lamido, a leading figure in the party, was only informed about the northern caucus meeting barely an hour before it started.
Dr. Gumel also questioned the legitimacy of the process, claiming that “none of those endorsed had even purchased forms to indicate their interest in the position.”
He insisted that Lamido remains the most qualified person to lead the PDP out of its current challenges, adding that the Jigawa chapter’s priority is to ensure unity and credible leadership for the party.
“We have been in the PDP for 26 years, and we do not want anything that will destabilize the party,” he said, reaffirming the chapter’s commitment to fairness and internal democracy.