Makarfi resigns as PDP BoT secretary, says chairman and secretary can’t come from same zone

Ahmed Makarfi, former governor of Kaduna, has resigned as secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) board of trustees (BoT), insisting that the party must uphold its zoning principle.

The PDP elected Kabiru Turaki, a former minister of special duties and intergovernmental affairs, as its national chairman on Saturday.

In a letter on Monday addressed to Adolphus Wabara, the PDP BoT chairman, Makarfi said he could not remain in office following the election of Turaki, who is also from the north-west.

The former governor said he had attempted to step down two months earlier but was persuaded to wait until after the national convention.

“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,” the letter reads.

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

Makarfi said the principle guiding his decision has remained unchanged.

“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.”

He said stepping down was necessary to avoid creating “an impression of imbalance” within the PDP leadership structure.

“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 from 1999 to 2007, thanked Wabara and other members of the board for what he described as a cordial working relationship.

“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.”