PDP NEC Returns Turaki, Arapaja as Interim Leaders

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party loyal to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has nominated Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, SAN, and Taofeek Arapaja to lead the party’s interim National Working Committee.

Turaki was named interim chairman, while Arapaja was nominated as interim secretary at the 103rd National Executive Committee meeting of the party.

The meeting was reportedly convened by two-thirds of PDP NEC members at the request of the party’s Board of Trustees.

The NEC also reinstated former members of the National Working Committee elected at the party’s Ibadan convention in Oyo State last year. That convention was later nullified by the Supreme Court.

Before the meeting began, Esther Udehi, a NEC member from Delta State, moved a motion for the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, to preside over the meeting as protem chairman. The motion was seconded by Fred Agbedi, a member of the House of Representatives.

Several senior PDP figures attended the meeting, including Governor Seyi Makinde, Senator Wabara, founding PDP National Secretary Prof. Jerry Gana, former Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, former Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang, former Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Inna Ciroma, former PDP Women Leader Hajiya Zainab Maina, and former Osun State Governor Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

In his acceptance speech, Turaki said the PDP would field candidates for all elective offices in the 2027 general elections.

The party also dismissed the recent Ibadan judgment, describing it as academic and insisting that it could not stand.