Saraki Urges PDP to Suspend Ibadan Convention, Calls for Caretaker Committee

Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has advised the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend its planned National Convention scheduled for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan, citing unresolved political and legal controversies that could jeopardize the party’s unity and credibility.

Saraki made this known during a meeting with members of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Team, led by Amb. Hassan Adamu, on November 12, 2025.

According to him, the meeting, which focused on restoring peace and stability within the opposition party, was “meaningful and incisive,” as it addressed key issues threatening the PDP’s cohesion ahead of the convention.

“I expressed deep regret that despite the selfless and arduous efforts by some of us, the Convention has become mired in extensive controversy, both political and legal,” Saraki said. “This does not bode well for not only our party, but for Nigeria’s democracy in general.”

He cautioned that the ongoing legal disputes surrounding the validity of the convention posed a serious risk to the party’s future, stressing that “political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts.”

“As it stands, there are conflicting court orders regarding the convention, and there is no assurance that its conduct and outcome will stand,” he noted. “Legal battles will only continue to cause friction.”

Saraki, who reiterated his commitment to the aspirations of his supporters and the wider PDP family, said he could not in good conscience support any action that might further deepen the crisis or undermine members’ confidence.

He therefore proposed the immediate constitution of a Caretaker Committee within the next two days to temporarily manage the party’s affairs and lay the groundwork for genuine reconciliation.

“This is the path to true reconciliation and stability,” he explained. “In the present circumstance, no serious politician with electoral ambition will seek to contest on the PDP platform without certainty about the validity of their nomination.”

The former Senate President maintained that proceeding with the convention as scheduled “will only serve to further fuel the present crisis” and would amount to “a waste of efforts.”

“It’s not too late to find a win-win solution,” Saraki concluded.