PDP: Turaki woos ex-governors, Ministers as party vows to reclaim villa

The National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP, Tanimu Turaki (SAN), has solicited the supports of forum of former PDP governors and ministers, praising their contributions during the party’s “16 glorious years” in power and seeking their guidance to regain governance at both the national and state levels.

Addressing a joint meeting of the forum on Tuesday at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, Turaki described the gathering as “strategic” and “deliberate,” emphasizing that the legacies of state infrastructure built by past governors and transformative federal policies championed by former ministers remain the party’s strongest selling points.

“When you talk of the 16 glorious years of the PDP, you are talking about exceptional projects and legacies that still stand tall today. We grew the economy, reduced Nigeria’s debt, built strong institutions, and delivered projects that deeply impacted Nigerians. Even 10 years after leaving office, Nigerians remain nostalgic about the bond we built,” Turaki said.

The chairman acknowledged past mistakes but underscored the PDP’s willingness to fix them. “We are human; we are not infallible. But the strongest thing about PDP is that we admit mistakes and are prepared to correct them,” he declared, calling the meeting a “family affair” where participants could “speak frankly and brutally.”

He urged elders to share the secrets behind PDP’s unprecedented four consecutive electoral victories, its role as the first party to facilitate civilian-to-civilian transition, and the policies that made it a household name.

“Now that we are planning to take the party back to the people and reclaim power, we must seek guidance, advice, and even directives from you,” he said.

Turaki assured Nigerians that the PDP remains “your party,” promising transparency, fairness, justice, and equity in party affairs. “Tell us what you want, how you want it, and when you want it—we will deliver,” Turaki pledged.

In his goodwill message, Chairman of the Former Governors Forum and former governor of Niger State, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, commended the new leadership of the party for steps taken to reposition it.

He emphasized that the party must review its leadership selection process if it is serious about earning public confidence.

“We must find better ways to ensure we have committed, honest, dedicated, and diligent leaders like we did in Ibadan.

“A political party should not be something you wake up and just join today, then switch to another tomorrow. It’s essential to remember there’s a master planner. A master planner has already destined some of the things we can do. But that doesn’t mean you just lock yourself in a room, expecting the master planner to take you up.

“We have seen in this country, where people have contested elections four, five, six times, yet they didn’t even win in their constituencies. So, please, we have come this far; we cannot give up.

“We must continue to follow the rules and regulations as we understand them. Sometimes, we may be disappointed, but we must not be discouraged. We must keep going, Mr. Chairman,” he stated.

Adding his support, former Kano State governor Ibrahim Shekarau and Chairman of the Forum of Former Ministers pledged loyalty to the new party leadership.

“I assure you, it’s not about the number. It’s about courage, commitment, and determination, as we’ve seen in the chairman and the members of the National Working Committee, which will help deliver us in 2027, by the grace of God. We are determined, Mr. Chairman, to work together. History will show that, for the first time in all the democracies we’ve experienced, this is the first time a team of a given government has united,” he declared.