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| Former Senate President Bukola Saraki in a meeting with the PDP Board of Trustees Reconciliation Conmitte. |
…Says Proceeding Amid Legal Battles “A Waste of Effort”
Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend its planned national convention scheduled for November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State, citing deepening legal and political controversies surrounding the exercise.
Saraki made the call in a statement on Wednesday night via his official X handle following a meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, who paid him a visit at his Abuja residence.
Describing the meeting as “meaningful and incisive,” the former Kwara State governor said discussions focused on the pressing issues threatening the unity and stability of the opposition party.
He lamented that despite the “selfless and arduous efforts” of party elders to restore peace, the planned convention had been engulfed in political disputes and conflicting court orders that could jeopardise its credibility and the legitimacy of its outcomes.
Saraki warned that going ahead with the Ibadan convention would be counterproductive, stressing that political disputes are best resolved through dialogue rather than prolonged legal battles.
“As it stands, there is no assurance that the conduct and outcome of the convention will stand. Political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts. The affairs of political parties are best settled amicably with all sides at the table. Legal battles will only continue to cause friction,” he said.
He noted that as a responsible leader, he could not support any move that might worsen divisions within the party or undermine members’ aspirations.
To this end, the former Senate President urged the BoT to recommend the immediate establishment of a Caretaker Committee to manage the party’s affairs and rebuild trust among members.
“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 within the next two days. This is the path to true reconciliation and stability of the party. It will also reassure members who wish to contest elections under the PDP platform,” Saraki added.
He cautioned that proceeding with the convention under the current tense atmosphere would “only serve to further fuel the present crisis and amount to a waste of effort.”
“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 warned.
The crisis within the PDP has deepened in recent weeks, following a wave of internal suspensions and counter-suspensions involving top party figures.
The National Working Committee (NWC) led by Acting National Chairman, Umar Damagum, recently announced the suspension of National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and others over alleged anti-party activities. In swift reaction, a faction loyal to Anyanwu declared the Damagum-led decision illegal and announced the suspension of the Acting Chairman and some NWC members, widening internal rifts.
Adding to the turmoil, a Federal High Court in Abuja halted the party’s national convention, citing procedural irregularities. However, the party leadership has vowed to proceed with the Ibadan convention, insisting that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in its internal affairs.
Despite this stance, Saraki maintained that the party’s best option remains reconciliation and restructuring through a Caretaker Committee that can steer it away from further fragmentation.
Source: PunchOnline
