PDP Crisis Deepens as Wabara, Saraki Clash Over Planned Convention

A major disagreement has emerged between two former Senate Presidents and prominent leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP—Senators Adolphus Wabara and Bukola Saraki—over whether the party’s national convention scheduled to begin tomorrow in Ibadan should proceed.

Wabara, the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, insisted the convention must hold despite growing tensions, while Saraki warned that going ahead amid unresolved legal and political disputes would plunge the party into deeper crisis.

Saraki: Convention Must Be Suspended to Avoid Worsening Crisis

In a statement issued after his meeting with the BoT Reconciliation Committee led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu (Wakili Adamawa), Saraki urged the PDP to immediately set up a Caretaker Committee to temporarily manage its affairs.

He said the upcoming convention had become enveloped in political and legal controversy, posing a significant threat not only to the PDP but to Nigeria’s democratic stability.

“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. Therefore, going ahead with the Convention as scheduled is a waste of efforts. It does not have my support,” Saraki stated.

Saraki highlighted conflicting court rulings over the legitimacy of the convention, warning that no one could guarantee that the exercise—or its outcome—would withstand legal scrutiny.

“As it stands, 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.”

He emphasised that internal disputes should be resolved politically, not in courtrooms.

“Political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts… Legal battles will only continue to cause friction,” he said.

Saraki added that his position was based on his duty to protect the political aspirations of his constituency.

“As a leader… I cannot in all good conscience take or be part of any action that will jeopardise their aspirations.”

He recommended forming a Caretaker Committee within 48 hours to stabilise the party and create space for genuine reconciliation.

Wabara: Convention Will Proceed as Planned

At his Abuja residence, where the PDP BoT Reconciliation Committee presented its report, Wabara declared that the convention would go ahead despite calls for a postponement.

He said all major organs of the PDP—including the Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the BoT—had agreed to the date long before individual objections arose.

“It is absolutely practical for us to go to the convention… The Governors’ Forum, the NWC, and the Board of Trustees in our last meeting made mention of us going for the convention,” Wabara said.

He argued that while the party respects the rule of law, certain court orders appeared to contradict Supreme Court decisions.

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

Wabara dismissed claims that the BoT intervened too late in the crisis, describing the issues as self-inflicted and driven by personal ambition.

“There is actually no crisis… The problem is elective interests, which they have even fixed up till 2031. Some people want the party dead now, and then they will resurrect it in 2031 for their use.”

He also noted that BoT leadership had no personal political agenda, stressing that their only concern was preserving the party.

“Opposition generally is to guide the ruling party to do the right thing… The secretary… has no interest other than that the party must survive.”

Wabara lamented the BoT’s limited financial capacity to enforce its mandates or carry out post-election reconciliation efforts.

“After the 2023 elections, the BoT swung into action… but because we didn’t have money, we could not go ahead.”

Reconciliation Committee Consulted Broad Stakeholders

Presenting the committee’s report, Secretary Chief Mike Oghiadomhe said the BoT panel consulted widely—including with the FCT Minister, the PDP Governors’ Forum, the NWC, suspended party officers, and Dr. Bukola Saraki.

“The time was short and a lot of positions had been taken… We met with the FCT Minister, the Governors’ Forum, the NWC… and the suspended officers.”

He said the report outlined a path for stable and sustainable party administration.

“Our recommendations are based on our desire to present a roadmap for sustainable and progressive party administration.”

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