A member of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Inna Ciroma, has said the adoption of former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (SAN), as the party’s consensus candidate for national chairman was a democratic decision reflecting the will of the majority of Northern stakeholders.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Ciroma explained that the zoning of the PDP national chairmanship to the North followed the party’s rotation principle, adding that Northern leaders had met and agreed on Turaki’s emergence after wide consultations.
“PDP zones positions and rotates them every four years between the North and the South. Since the zoning committee agreed that the president should come from the South, the chairman must come from the North,” she said.
According to her, the process also involved micro-zoning among the Northern subregions.
“At our caucus meeting, we agreed that positions allocated to the North Central would now move to the North West, the North West to the North East, and the North East to the North Central. That means the chairmanship, even though Damagum from the North East was acting, has now moved to the North West. There were arguments about the North Central not exhausting its four years, but we resolved that the North West has never produced a PDP national chairman. So, both zones met and agreed on Tanimu Turaki,” she explained.
Ciroma stressed that the decision was democratic, acknowledging that while not everyone would be pleased, the majority view prevailed.
“PDP is a democratic party. When they met and endorsed Tanimu Turaki, that was democracy. Others who are unhappy have the right to complain, but the majority decision stands,” she said.
Addressing speculations that Turaki’s endorsement might be linked to a possible return of former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2027, Ciroma dismissed such claims, insisting that the focus for now was rebuilding the party.
“As far as I’m concerned, PDP has serious challenges, and we need a chairman who can provide a strong platform for whoever becomes our presidential candidate. Tanimu Turaki fits that description. He is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, highly experienced, humble, and democratic. We need a chairman who cannot be manipulated, who can stand for the party and for Nigeria,” she said.
She added that Turaki’s leadership style within the former ministers’ forum demonstrated his capability to lead the PDP nationally.
“He listens to everyone and thinks about the country. We need leaders with vision, not just those who want to be president for power’s sake,” she said.
Responding to concerns about the PDP’s internal crisis and loss of members, Ciroma maintained that the party remains resilient.
“Honestly, I’m not worried about governors leaving. In 2015, PDP had more governors and still lost the election. Elections now depend on Nigerians, not governors. Every Nigerian’s vote matters. Your vote is your right and your rescue from the present situation,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the PDP would continue to attract old members back and grow stronger ahead of the 2027 elections.
“People will go and come back. PDP has never changed its name or merged with any party. We are still here, united and wiser. We are committed to ensuring internal democracy because that is what sustains a political party. The people’s voice must remain the rule of the party,” she concluded.
Ciroma reaffirmed her confidence that with Tanimu Turaki’s leadership, the PDP would stabilise, strengthen its internal democracy, and reassert itself as Nigeria’s main opposition party.
Boluwatife Enome
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