After a national convention over the weekend at Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, Oyo State, a group of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elected new members to its National Working Committee.
After several hours of voting, 20 national officers were elected during the convention, which drew about 3,000 accredited delegates.
Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, reportedly received 1,516 votes as the only contender to become the party’s national chairperson.
His appearance came when Lado Danmarke, the PDP’s 2023 Katsina State governorship candidate, abruptly withdrew. Despite this, he earned 275 votes cast before delegates were notified of his withdrawal.
In accordance with its power-balancing arrangement, the party had already assigned its national chairmanship to the North and its presidential ticket to the South.
Turaki was then approved by a number of North-West stakeholders as their unanimous candidate.
Weeks of internal conflict were fueled by the Nyesom Wike-backed faction’s requests for numerous court orders to halt the convention.
Nonetheless, the party was able to obtain a favorable ruling from an Oyo State High Court, which permitted the exercise to continue in Ibadan.
Voting proceeded without significant interference in spite of the tension and legal disputes.
Solarin Sunday Adekunle received 633 votes to be chosen Deputy National Organizing Secretary.
Voting was done to confirm their positions, however all elected officers were returned as consensus candidates.
The list of elected officials is provided below:
Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, the chairman of the country
Hamza Akuyan Koshe, the northern deputy national chairman
Daniel Ambrose Woye, a deputy national chairman from the South
Arapaja Taofeek Gbola-Oladejo, the country secretary
Richard Nnabugwu Ihediwa, deputy national secretary
Isaa Abubakar, the country’s treasurer
Okechukwu Obiechina Daniel, the secretary of national finance
National organizing secretary Theophilus Daka Shan
Ini Ememobong Essien, secretary of national publicity
Aribisala Adewale Idowu, the national audit
Badaru Shafi’l, a national legal consultant
The national women’s leader, Ogbu Anthonia Chinenyenwa
Leader of the national youth, Umar Dan Aji
Solarin Sunday Adekunle, the deputy secretary for national organizing
Farida Umar Hamid, the deputy head of national PR
The Aigbokhaevbo Harrison Omagbon, national treasurer’s deputy
Hamsatu Adamu, the national women’s deputy leader
Tina Puna Musa, the national financial secretary’s deputy
– Usamatu Maharazu — deputy national auditor
– Elee-Njaka Chikere — deputy national youth leader.
