Saraki warns of high-profile defections from PDP amid party crisis
Bukola Saraki, the former Senate president and chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reconciliation committee, expressed concerns over recent defections from the party, attributing them to elite influences.
In an interview on Arise TV’s ‘Prime Time,’ Saraki stated that despite the current turmoil, the grassroots of the party remain robust and engaged.
“When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots,” Saraki said, highlighting that many local members are unaware of the turmoil at the national level.
However, Saraki warned that the PDP could see further high-profile exits if internal disputes, particularly regarding the rightful national secretary, are not resolved.
“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect,” he cautioned.
He identified the unresolved leadership dispute as a key obstacle to the party’s ability to hold a proper national executive committee meeting or organize a credible national convention. Saraki confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) recognizes Samuel Anyanwu as the legitimate PDP secretary, based on a recent supreme court ruling.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Saraki emphasized the need to lay the groundwork for a credible campaign. “The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party,” he urged, asserting that the success of the PDP is critical to preventing Nigeria’s drift towards a one-party state.
In contrast, the PDP’s board of trustees has voiced opposition to the announcement of Anyanwu as national secretary, declaring it inconsistent with the party’s constitution.
Source: TheCable
