The National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tanimu Turaki, met with former governors and ministers in Abuja and told them that the new National Working Committee is already working to reposition the party for a return to national power. The gathering brought together figures like former Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu and former Kano State Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and provided a space for party stakeholders to reflect on how to regain relevance.
Turaki said many Nigerians still judge the country’s progress by the period when the PDP held power for sixteen years. He described that stretch as a time of stability and economic progress, and argued that current hardship has pushed many citizens to remember the gains recorded between 1999 and 2015. He referred to those years as a golden period driven by liberalised markets, institutional reforms and a sense of national unity.
He stated that the PDP is determined to reclaim the presidency in 2027 and said voters are now able to separate capacity from political noise. He highlighted the opening up of the telecoms sector, the recapitalisation of banks, the clearance of the Paris Club debt and the creation of agencies like the EFCC and ICPC as steps that changed the economy and strengthened governance.
Aliyu, who leads the Former Governors Forum within the party, expressed concern that Nigeria is drifting toward a single party environment. He said defections, shrinking political participation and the weakening of opposition structures could threaten democracy. He assured Turaki that the forum stands behind the efforts of the new leadership and views the current moment as a renewal process rather than a decline.
Shekarau spoke for the forum of former ministers and encouraged the NWC to stay steady despite political and economic pressures. He commended what he called its resilience and said rebuilding the party will require discipline, focus and a willingness to withstand criticism. The meeting ended on a shared message that party elders expect the new leadership to restore confidence and guide the PDP back to competitive strength.
