Saraki: PDP Convention waste of efforts, I can’t be part of it

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

In what many many members of the party will consider a great setback to the event, former Senate President Bukola Saraki on Wednesday said he is not in support of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP going ahead with it national convention scheduled for this weekend in Ibadan Oyo State.

Saraki based his decision on conflicting court orders that he noted have put the validity of the convention in jeopardy which he said may also likely impinged on the outcome of the event. He added that going ahead with the convention will also fuel the crisis within the party.

Saraki who said this in a post on his social media platforms after his meeting with some members of the Board of Trustees, BoT of PDP therefore declared that he cannot be part of the Ibadan PDP National Convention.

“As a leader, on whose shoulder lies the political weight of the yearnings and aspiration of my people, I cannot in all good conscience take or be part of any action that will jeopardise their aspirations,” Saraki who is also a governor of Kwara State said.

On the way forward for PDP, Saraki said he told members of the PDP BoT he met with that the party should to set up a Caretaker Committee to steer its affairs of the party for the time being in the next two days.

He said this will allow for true reconciliation and stability of the Party. He added that setting up a caretaker committee will give confidence to members who intend to contest elections on the PDP platform.

“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.

“It is clear that going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025 will only serve to further fuel the present crisis. Therefore, going ahead with the Convention as scheduled is a waste of efforts, It does not have my support. It’s not too late to find a win-win solution,” the former Senate President said.

Recall that while two courts in Abuja has ordered stoppage of the PDP National Convention with orders that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC should also not monitor the event.

However, a state high court in Ibadan has given a contrary order, as it ruled that the party should go ahead with the national convention while INEC was ordered to monitor the event.

Meanwhile, the Umar Damagun led National Working Committee, NWC of the party with support of governors elected on the platform of the party led by Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has insisted that the Ibadan convention will go ahead this weekend.

But a faction of the party loyal to Nyesom Wike, the Minister of FCT has opposed the national convention. Indeed, the first court judgment that stopped the convention was obtained by the faction.

Members of Wike -led faction had complained that they were not informed and allowed to participate in activities leading to the National Convention. The second judgment that halted the convention was obtained by former governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, who also complained that he was not allowed to obtain a form to contest for the chairmanship of PDP at the scheduled nation convention.

However, the court is expected to give its final ruling on the suit filed by Lamido today.

See full post of former Senate President Bukola Saraki below

On 12 November 2025, I had the pleasure to receive members of the BOT Reconciliation Team of our great party, the PDP, led by Wakili Adamawa, Amb. Hassan Adamu. They requested for a meeting in order to seek my opinion on the possible ways of restoring peace within the party. It was a meaningful and incisive meeting during which matters of great importance affecting our party were discussed.

We deliberated extensively on issues relating to the National Convention scheduled for 15-16 November 2025 in Ibadan.

In summary, I expressed deep regret that, despite the selfless and arduous efforts by some of us, the Convention has become mired in extensive controversy, both political and legal. This does not bode well for not only our party, but for Nigeria’s democracy in general.

I made it clear to the BOT team that political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts. Affairs of political parties are best resolved amicably with all sides seated round the table. Legal battles will only continue to cause friction.

As it stands, the fact is that there are conflicting court orders in relation to the validity of the scheduled convention. As a result, there is no assurance as to whether the conduct and outcome of the convention will stand.

As a leader, on whose shoulder lies the political weight of the yearnings and aspiration of my people, I cannot in all good conscience take or be part of any action that will jeopardise their aspirations

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. This must be done in the next two days. This is the path to true reconciliation and stability of the Party. It is also the best way to give confidence to our members who intend to contest elections on the PDP platform. 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.

It is clear that going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025 will only serve to further fuel the present crisis. Therefore, going ahead with the Convention as scheduled is a waste of efforts, It does not have my support. It’s not too late to find a win-win solution