Former Governor of Kaduna State, Senator
Ahmed Makarfi, has resigned as Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT).
His resignation letter, dated November 17, 2025, was sent to the Chairman of BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara.
Makarfi, who governed Kaduna from 1999 to 2007, said he resigned to uphold the party’s zoning principle.
The former governor said he could not remain in office following the election of former minister, Kabiru Turaki, as the party’s national chairman, who also hails from the North-West like him.
The PDP elected Turaki on Saturday in Ibadan, Oyo State at its 2025 National Convention.
Makarfi 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.
He 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.
“I also appreciate all board members for their support and the good relationship that prevailed during my period as secretary”.
