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 legal and political controversies surrounding the exercise.
Saraki made the call in a statement posted on his X handle on Wednesday night, following a meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Committee led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, who visited him at his Abuja residence to seek his views on restoring peace within the party.
Describing the meeting as “meaningful and incisive,” the former Kwara State governor said discussions centred on the party’s unity and stability.
He expressed concern that despite the “selfless and arduous efforts” of several party leaders, the proposed convention had become mired in political and legal disputes, a situation he said was unhealthy for Nigeria’s democracy.
Saraki warned that the existence of conflicting court orders regarding the convention’s validity poses serious risks to the legitimacy of any outcome from the exercise.
“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.
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He added that as a responsible leader, he could not endorse any move that might undermine internal cohesion or the aspirations of party members.
Saraki therefore urged the BoT to recommend the immediate formation of a Caretaker Committee to manage the affairs of the PDP and rebuild confidence among members and stakeholders.
“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,” he added.
He stated that proceeding with the Ibadan convention under the current circumstances would only serve to further fuel the present crisis and amount to a waste of effort.
He added, “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 effort. It does not have my support.”
The crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has deepened in recent weeks following a wave of suspensions and counter-suspensions involving top party officials.
The National Working Committee (NWC), led by Acting National Chairman Umar Damagum, had earlier announced the suspension of the party’s National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu, and several others over alleged anti-party activities.
In a swift rebuttal, the faction loyal to Anyanwu declared the Damagum-led action illegal and announced the suspension of the acting chairman alongside some NWC members, further widening divisions within the opposition party.
The escalating feud coincided with multiple court rulings that have compounded the PDP’s troubles ahead of its planned national convention.
A Federal High Court in Abuja recently restrained the party from proceeding with the exercise, citing procedural irregularities in the build-up to the convention.
Despite the court’s order, the party leadership maintained it would go ahead with the Ibadan convention, insisting that the court lacked jurisdiction to halt the event.
