Bukola Saraki PDP convention warning urges the party to suspend its Ibadan event, citing court disputes and risks to internal unity and legitimacy.
Bukola Saraki PDP convention warning has intensified internal tensions within the Peoples Democratic Party as the former Senate President urged the suspension of the party’s planned national convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State.
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In a statement released via his official X handle on Wednesday night, Saraki said the decision to hold the convention amid “mounting political and legal controversies” risked undermining both the party’s unity and the credibility of its leadership.
The former Kwara State governor issued the advice after meeting members of the PDP Board of Trustees Reconciliation Committee, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, who visited him to seek his views on restoring peace within the party.
Describing the discussions as “meaningful and incisive,” Saraki lamented that despite “selfless and arduous efforts” by some party elders to resolve disputes, the forthcoming convention had been consumed by political wrangling and conflicting court orders.
“The existence of contradictory court rulings on the validity of the convention poses a serious threat to the legitimacy of its outcome,” he warned. “Political matters are best settled amicably, not in court. Legal battles only deepen divisions.”
Saraki emphasised that as a responsible leader, he could not endorse any process that might further endanger the party’s stability or jeopardise members’ aspirations. Instead, he urged the BoT to recommend the creation of a Caretaker Committee within two days to manage the PDP’s affairs and rebuild confidence among members.
According to him, “This is the path to true reconciliation and stability. It will also reassure those intending to contest elections under the PDP platform.”
The Bukola Saraki PDP convention remarks come at a time when the party faces widening internal fractures. The crisis escalated following suspensions and counter-suspensions between factions led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum and National Secretary Senator Samuel Anyanwu.
Compounding the turmoil, a Federal High Court in Abuja recently halted the convention, citing procedural irregularities. However, the Damagum-led leadership has vowed to proceed, arguing that the court lacks jurisdiction over internal party matters.
Saraki cautioned that pressing ahead with the Ibadan convention would only “fuel the present crisis and waste valuable effort,” warning that “no serious politician would contest under such uncertain conditions.”
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His intervention is viewed by analysts as a pivotal moment for the PDP, potentially shaping whether Nigeria’s main opposition party can recover its footing before the next election cycle.
