KEY POINTS
- Makarfi insists PDP zoning balance matters.
- PDP zoning balance drives leadership changes.
- Resignation highlights PDP zoning balance issues.
Former Kaduna State governor Ahmed Makarfi has resigned as secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party Board of Trustees, insisting the PDP zoning balance must be protected to sustain internal fairness. His decision came two days after the party elected Kabiru Turaki as national chairman at its convention in Abuja, placing both roles in the same geopolitical region.
Tensions rise over PDP zoning balance
Makarfi said remaining in office would violate the party’s long-standing zoning formula. He reminded Chairman Adolphus Wabara that he tried to step down months earlier but stayed because Wabara asked him to remain until after the convention. He stressed that the PDP zoning balance was central to stable leadership.
In his letter dated November 17, Makarfi argued that the chairman and BoT secretary should never emerge from the same zone. Turaki, like him, is from the north-west. That overlap, he said, risked “an impression of imbalance” within the PDP hierarchy.
He stated that stepping aside would give the new chairman full room to lead without internal friction.
Makarfi served Kaduna State between 1999 and 2007. He thanked Wabara and other board members for what he called a respectful and cooperative environment, noting that their support made his tenure smooth. He added that he made the decision not out of personal dissatisfaction but out of a commitment to party equity.
Makarfi’s exit adds to the concerns
The resignation adds another layer to the PDP’s ongoing debate about power rotation. Party insiders say the zoning issue remains one of the few mechanisms that maintain cohesion among its diverse blocs.
Makarfi’s exit is expected to intensify conversations about balancing influence as the party prepares for upcoming political battles.
His departure also positions Turaki to consolidate authority as the newly elected leader. Analysts believe the development will shape internal alliances in the coming months.
For now, the PDP faces renewed scrutiny over how it interprets and applies its zoning principles at a time of shifting national politics.
