Northern leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have resolved to zone the party’s national chairmanship position to the North-West, a move seen as part of efforts to unify the party ahead of its November national convention scheduled to hold in Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to Punch, the decision was reached during a strategic meeting of northern stakeholders in Abuja over the weekend. Party leaders agreed that while the North-West would produce the next National Chairman, all three northern zones would this week deliberate on consensus candidates for other key National Working Committee (NWC) positions.
Sources within the party revealed that the race for the chairmanship seat has narrowed down to three leading figures — former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, former Minister of Special Duties Tanimu Turaki (SAN), and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi.
Among the trio, Turaki is said to enjoy majority support from several stakeholders, including some of the few PDP governors still in office.
A senior party member, speaking anonymously, said:
“The noise and tension ahead of the convention are expected because this is a democratic setting where interests naturally differ. But the zoning decision is progressing well. Northern leaders, including governors, ex-governors, senators, and former National Assembly principal officers, met and agreed that the chairmanship should be micro-zoned to the North-West.”
The source added that the North-West, North-East, North-Central, and South-West zones will hold meetings this week to produce consensus candidates for their respective positions, with the full list expected before the end of the week.
If Turaki eventually clinches the top job, he is expected to resign as Co-Chairman of the PDP National Convention Organising Committee to officially join the contest.
Currently, the North holds several strategic NWC offices, including the National Chairman, Deputy National Chairman (North), National Legal Adviser, National Organising Secretary, National Youth Leader, and National Treasurer, alongside National Vice Chairmen for the North-East, North-West, and North-Central zones.
