Saraki Sounds Alarm Over PDP Convention Crisis
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has made a strong appeal to the Peoples Democratic Party leadership to immediately suspend its planned national convention scheduled for November 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan. The prominent politician warned that proceeding with the event could plunge Nigeria's main opposition party into deeper crisis and damage the country's democratic process.
Legal Battles Threaten Party Stability
In a detailed statement released on his X social media platform on Wednesday, November 12, Saraki revealed that he had met with members of the PDP Board of Trustees Reconciliation Team, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu. During these discussions, he emphasized that the convention had become entangled in what he described as extensive political and legal controversies that could undermine its legitimacy.
The fundamental problem, according to Saraki, stems from conflicting court orders regarding the convention's validity. He expressed serious concerns that there is no guarantee the convention's outcomes would stand given the current legal uncertainties surrounding the event.
Proposed Solution: Caretaker Committee
Saraki presented a concrete solution to the ongoing crisis, urging the BOT to establish a Caretaker Committee within the next 48 hours to temporarily manage party affairs. He argued that this approach would provide much-needed stability and confidence to party members considering electoral ambitions under the PDP banner.
"My advice to the BOT team is that the only solution available to us now is for the party to set up a Caretaker Committee to steer the affairs of the party for the time being," Saraki stated. "This must be done in the next two days. This is the path to true reconciliation and stability of the Party."
The former Kwara State governor emphasized that political matters require political solutions rather than legal confrontations. He maintained that "political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts" and called for genuine dialogue among all party stakeholders.
Serious Consequences for Electoral Aspirations
Saraki issued a stark warning about the potential consequences if the PDP ignores his advice and proceeds with the convention. He cautioned that no serious politician with electoral ambitions would risk associating with a party structure clouded by legal uncertainty.
"In the present circumstance, no serious politician with electoral ambition will seek to contest on the platform of the PDP, not knowing whether his or her nomination will be valid or declared null and void," he explained.
The PDP has been grappling with internal divisions concerning leadership legitimacy and zoning arrangements as the 2027 general elections approach. The Ibadan convention was initially intended to resolve these critical issues, but multiple court interventions have created confusion about its legality.
This development follows a recent court ruling by Justice Peter Lifu on Tuesday, November 11, which officially restrained the PDP from conducting its planned national convention in Oyo State capital. The legal barrier adds another layer of complexity to the party's efforts to resolve its internal crises and present a united front ahead of the crucial 2027 elections.
