Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna State, has resigned as secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT), emphasising the party’s need to uphold its zoning principle.
The PDP elected Kabiru Turaki, a former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as national chairman on Saturday. Following this, Makarfi submitted his resignation in a letter dated Monday to Adolphus Wabara, chairman of the PDP BoT.
In the letter, Makarfi explained that he could not continue in office after the emergence of Turaki, who hails from the same north-western region as him. He revealed that he had initially attempted to resign two months ago but was persuaded to remain until after the national convention.
“You may recall that about two months ago, I had resigned as secretary of the board and posted the same on the board’s WhatsApp platform,” Makarfi wrote. “Mr Chairman, you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a chairman.”
Makarfi stressed that his decision was guided by principle. “The principal reason for my resignation then and now was, and is still, my belief that the national chairman of the party and the secretary should not come from the same geopolitical zone,” he stated. “Now that a chairman has emerged from the north-west, where I come from, it is necessary to give him full space to do the needful.”
He added that stepping down was essential to prevent any perception of imbalance within the PDP leadership.
“Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as secretary of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17, 2025,” Makarfi concluded.
The former governor, who led Kaduna State from 1999 to 2007, also expressed gratitude to Wabara and other board members for their cooperation during his tenure. “I truly appreciate the very respectful relationship between us during my period as secretary,” he said. “I also appreciate all board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as secretary.”
Melissa Enoch
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