The chairman of the forum of former ministers on the platform of the People Democratic Party (PDP) Taminu Turaki SAN, has revealed that a new leadership of the party is expected to emerge from the anticipated elective convention.

Speaking yesterday, at a PDP forum which he chaired in Abuja, Mr Turaki noted that the new leadership of the party must be selected by merit, noting that what the party needs ahead of 2019 is vibrant leadership to provide virile opposition to APC government.

Explaining why the forum of former PDP ministers are insisting on merit in picking the next party chairman, Turaki stated that the party is replete with credible members who can serve as national chairman. He said “we will support meritocracy; we have gotten to a level where Nigerians consciousness has been awakened and we intend to look for the best.”

He added that they are not averse to the zoning arrangement which has zoned the national chairmanship to the entire south in line with the zoning arrangement of the party’s presidency on the entire north.

The former minister for special duties however noted that the party leaders from South can micro-zone the chairmanship to any part of the region they wish, just as leaders from north can also agree to zone the presidency to any part in the region, while stressing that former minister will financially support the current party leadership ahead of the convention.