Turaki, Ex-Govs, PDP leaders, Hold Closed-Door Talks with Obasanjo

Turaki, Ex-Governors, and PDP Leaders Hold Closed-Door Talks with Obasanjo

In a significant political development, senior figures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) convened a closed-door meeting with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

The meeting, which took place at Obasanjo’s residence within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, was led by Alhaji Taminu Turaki, a factional chairman of the PDP. He was accompanied by prominent former governors, including Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and Jonah Jang of Plateau State, alongside other influential party leaders.

The delegation arrived at approximately 11:38 a.m. and proceeded into a private session with the former president. While the specific details of their discussions remain undisclosed, the timing and nature of the meeting have sparked considerable speculation within Nigeria’s political circles.

The PDP has been grappling with mounting internal crises, ranging from leadership disputes to a wave of defections to rival parties, particularly the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Recent weeks have seen high-profile exits from the PDP, underscoring the party’s fragile state. Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara defected to the APC, citing dissatisfaction with the PDP’s handling of his political interests.

Similarly, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke resigned from the PDP and later joined the Accord Party, where he secured its governorship ticket ahead of the August 2026 election. 

These developments have intensified concerns about the PDP’s ability to maintain cohesion and relevance in Nigeria’s evolving political landscape.

The meeting with Obasanjo, a figure who remains influential in Nigerian politics despite his retirement from active partisan roles, is widely interpreted as an attempt by PDP leaders to seek counsel, forge unity, and possibly strategize on how to stem further defections.

Obasanjo has historically played the role of a political elder statesman, and his involvement in such discussions often signals efforts to recalibrate the direction of opposition politics in Nigeria.

Although no official communiqué has been released, the encounter highlights the urgency within the PDP to address its internal fractures and reposition itself ahead of upcoming electoral contests. The closed-door nature of the talks suggests that sensitive issues—possibly involving reconciliation, party restructuring, or alliances, were at the heart of the deliberations.

This meeting, therefore, stands as a pivotal moment in the PDP’s ongoing struggle to redefine its identity and strategy in the face of growing challenges.

Whether Obasanjo’s counsel will translate into tangible reforms or renewed unity remains to be seen, but the gathering underscores the gravity of the party’s current predicament and the lengths to which its leaders are willing to go to salvage its fortunes.