Senator Ahmed Makarfi, a former Governor of Kaduna State, has formally resigned from his position as Secretary of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), upholding a core party zoning principle.
In a resignation letter dated November 17, 2025, and addressed to the BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, Makarfi stated that his decision was driven by the recent election of a new National Chairman from his own North-West geopolitical zone.
The emergence of Kabiru Turaki, a former Minister of Special Duties, as the PDP’s National Chairman at the party’s convention in Ibadan triggered the move.
Makarfi revealed that this was his second resignation attempt; he had initially stepped down about two months ago via the BoT’s WhatsApp platform but was persuaded by Wabara to remain until after the convention.
“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,” Makarfi wrote in the letter.
He further explained, “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 emphasized that the move was made in the interest of fairness and to maintain a balanced leadership structure within the party. His resignation is effective immediately from November 17, 2025.
Makarfi, a key party stalwart who served as Kaduna State governor from 1999 to 2007, concluded his letter by thanking Wabara and fellow BoT members for the “very respectful” and supportive relationship during his tenure.
