Saraki Calls for PDP Convention Halt, Proposes Caretaker Committee

*States that, given the circumstances, no serious politician will run on the PDP's platform due to the uncertainty surrounding its nomin...

*States that, given the circumstances, no serious politician will run on the PDP's platform due to the uncertainty surrounding its nomination.

Before Saturday's national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged his party to put on hold its scheduled national convention set for November 15 and 16, 2025 in Ibadan, Oyo State, due to legal and political issues associated with the event.

Following a meeting with a reconciliation committee led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, Saraki stated,

My suggestion to the BOT team is that the sole option currently open to us is for the party to establish a Temporary Committee to manage the party's matters for the present period.

This needs to be completed within the next two days. This is the route to genuine reconciliation and the Party's stability. It is also the most effective method to build trust among our members planning to run for elections under the PDP banner.

"In the current situation, no genuine politician with electoral aspirations will attempt to run under the PDP's banner, unaware of whether their nomination will be valid or deemed invalid," Saraki said.

As stated by the former Senate President, it is evident that proceeding with the National Convention in Ibadan this weekend will only intensify the current crisis. "Hence, holding the Convention as planned is a futile effort and does not have my backing. It's still possible to seek a mutually beneficial resolution."

My suggestion to the BOT team is that the only option we have at this moment is for the party to establish a Caretaker Committee to manage the party's affairs temporarily. This needs to be accomplished within the next two days. This approach is the way toward genuine reconciliation and stability within the Party. It is also the most effective method to build confidence among our members who plan to run for elections under the PDP banner. In the current situation, no committed politician with ambitions for electoral office would want to run under the PDP platform without knowing if their nomination will be valid or considered invalid.

It is evident that proceeding with the National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025 will only intensify the ongoing crisis. Hence, holding the Convention as planned is a futile endeavor. I do not endorse it. There is still time to seek a mutually beneficial resolution.

Saraki issued the statement through his official X (Twitter) account on Wednesday evening following a meeting with members of the PDP's Board of Trustees Reconciliation Committee, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, who visited him at his Abuja home to discuss his opinions on bringing harmony back to the party.

The ex-governor of Kwara State referred to the gathering as "significant and insightful," highlighting that it centered on critical matters impacting the party's cohesion and steadfastness.

Saraki voiced disappointment that, although certain party leaders made "selfless and strenuous efforts" to address internal conflicts, the upcoming convention has been caught up in political and legal debates, which, in his view, is not a positive sign for Nigeria's democracy.

Saraki cautioned that having contradictory court decisions about the convention's validity presents significant dangers to the credibility of any results from the process.

As per Saraki, "Currently, there is no guarantee that the behavior and results of the convention will remain unchanged. Matters related to politics are rarely settled in court. Issues within political parties are most effectively addressed through mutual agreement with all parties involved. Legal disputes will only keep creating tension."

He emphasized that, as a responsible leader, he could not endorse any action that might threaten the goals of party members or weaken unity within the organization.

In this regard, Saraki called on the BoT to propose the urgent formation of a Temporary Committee to oversee the activities of the PDP and rebuild trust among members and potential candidates.

He stated, "My recommendation to the BoT team is that the sole option we have at the moment is for the party to establish a Temporary Committee within the next two days."

"This is the way toward genuine reconciliation and the party's stability. It will also provide confidence to members who intend to run for elections through the PDP framework," he added.

He mentioned that continuing with the Ibadan convention in the present situation would only intensify the ongoing crisis and be a futile use of resources.

He stated, "Under the current situation, no genuine politician with electoral aspirations would attempt to run under the PDP's banner, unaware of whether their nomination would be considered valid or deemed invalid."

It is evident that proceeding with the National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025 will only intensify the current crisis.

Thus, proceeding with the Convention as planned is a futile use of resources. I do not endorse it.

The National Working Committee, headed by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, has declared the suspension of the party's National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, along with others, due to reported anti-party actions.

In a quick reaction, the group headed by Anyanwu rejected the Damagum-driven decision as unlawful and declared the suspension of the acting chairman and several members of the NWC, intensifying splits within the party's leadership.

The rising tensions occurred alongside a series of court decisions that worsened the PDP's situation before its scheduled national convention.

A federal high court in Abuja issued a directive to stop the party's national convention, referencing irregularities in the process leading up to the event.

Nevertheless, the party's leadership maintained that it would go ahead with the Ibadan convention, contending that the court did not have the authority to prevent it.

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