PDP Crisis: Wabara, Saraki Differ On Saturday’s Convention

Share Tweet Share Send

Two former Senate Presidents and chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Adolphus Wabara and Senator Bukola Saraki, have expressed opposing views over the party’s national convention scheduled to begin tomorrow in Ibadan, Oyo State.

Wabara, who chairs the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT), insisted the convention must hold as approved by all major organs of the party.

Saraki, however, warned that proceeding with the gathering despite pending legal disputes would deepen the internal crisis.

Saraki: Convention Will Escalate Crisis

In a statement issued after a meeting with the BoT Reconciliation Team led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa), Saraki urged the PDP to suspend the convention and set up a Caretaker Committee to manage the party temporarily.

He said the planned exercise had become entangled in political and legal controversies, describing the situation as a serious threat to both the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy.

“It is clear that going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025, will only serve to further fuel the present crisis. Going ahead is a waste of effort. It does not have my support,” Saraki stated.

He noted that conflicting court orders had created uncertainty over the legitimacy of the process.

“As it stands, there are conflicting court orders on the validity of the convention. There is no assurance that the conduct and outcome will stand,” he said.

Saraki added that disputes within political parties are better resolved through dialogue rather than court battles, stressing that his position was based on the responsibility to protect the political aspirations of his constituents.

He called for the constitution of a Caretaker Committee within two days to restore confidence and create space for reconciliation.

Wabara: Convention Will Go Ahead

However, Wabara maintained that the party would proceed with the convention as planned. The BoT chair spoke at his Abuja residence while receiving the report of the BoT Reconciliation Committee.

The committee, chaired by Ambassador Hassan Adamu with Chief Mike Oghiadomhe as secretary, was inaugurated to address internal disputes and smoothen preparations for the convention.

Wabara said all major organs of the party, including the Governors’ Forum, National Working Committee (NWC), and the BoT, had already endorsed holding the convention.

“It is absolutely practical for us to go to the convention. All organs of the party had agreed before these individual opinions came up,” he said.

He expressed worry that some court orders appeared to contradict Supreme Court pronouncements, saying such contradictions were unacceptable.

“You don’t make all kinds of orders when the Supreme Court has deliberated on a matter. As far as the party organs are concerned, the convention will hold,” he added.

‘Crisis Is Self-Inflicted’

Wabara dismissed claims that the BoT intervened too late, blaming the turbulence on personal ambitions within the party.

“There is actually no crisis. All the problems we have are self-inflicted. Some people want the party dead now and hope to revive it in 2031 for their own use,” he said.

He noted that he and other senior BoT members had no personal political ambitions and were only concerned about preserving the party.

He further stressed that opposition politics should focus on constructive criticism rather than power tussles.

Wabara lamented the BoT’s limited financial resources, saying earlier reconciliation efforts stalled due to insufficient funding after the 2023 elections.

Committee Consulted Key Stakeholders

Presenting the committee’s findings, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe said the team consulted widely, including meetings with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, the PDP Governors’ Forum, the NWC, suspended national officers and Senator Saraki.

“We recognise that this was an arduous task because time was short and many positions had already been taken. Our recommendations are aimed at providing a roadmap for sustainable and progressive party administration,” he said.

Post Views: 86

Rafiyat SADIQ

Website | + posts

Rafiyat Sadiq is a political, justice, and human rights reporter with Pinnacle Daily, known for fearless reporting and impactful storytelling. At Pinnacle Daily, she brings clarity and depth to issues shaping governance, democracy, and the protection of citizens’ rights.