Makarfi Resigns as PDP BoT Secretary After Turaki’s Emergence as Chairman

Former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi has formally resigned as Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, insisting that the party must respect its zoning arrangement to maintain internal balance.

His resignation comes just days after Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, was elected the party’s new national chairman at the PDP national convention on Saturday. Turaki, like Makarfi, hails from the North-West.

In a resignation letter addressed to the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, on Monday, Makarfi recalled that he had earlier stepped down informally two months ago but was persuaded to wait until the convention was concluded.

“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,” he wrote.

“Mr Chairman, you may recall that you personally urged me to stay on until after a convention that produced a chairman.”

Makarfi said the election of a national chairman from his geopolitical zone makes it impossible for him to continue in the role without violating the party’s principles.

“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 said.

“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.”

The former governor stressed that stepping aside would prevent “an impression of imbalance” in the PDP’s leadership structure and allow the new chairman to operate freely.

“Accordingly, I hereby formally resign as secretary of the board of trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party with effect from today, November 17, 2025,” he stated.

Makarfi, who governed Kaduna State between 1999 and 2007, thanked Wabara and other board members for their cooperation.

“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.”

The resignation is expected to trigger discussions within the party over the redistribution of leadership positions in line with its zoning formula.