Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said the party should brace for further defections, even as it works to reposition itself for the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Saraki stated, “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility. We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.”
Despite this, he expressed optimism, noting that the timing of the current crisis presents a window for recovery. “For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say, late 2026; we would not even have had time to recover and regroup,” he said.
Saraki emphasized that the PDP, with its 26-year history, has weathered many storms and still maintains strength at the grassroots level. “When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots. In some areas in the country, they are not even aware of what is happening at our level, in Abuja.”
He added that the reactions from the grassroots have been encouraging, reinforcing the party’s resolve to rebuild from the bottom up.
Looking toward the 2027 elections, Saraki urged the party to focus on long-term strategy rather than temporary fixes. “This is not just about resolving today’s issues. It’s about building for the future. The next convention must not be business as usual. We must bring in new, younger faces who represent the future of this party.”
He cautioned that failure of the PDP would endanger Nigeria’s democratic balance. “If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”
What you should know
The PDP, once Nigeria’s dominant political force, faces a turbulent period with mounting defections and internal strife. However, with nearly two years until the next general election, party leaders like Saraki view this as a crucial period to regroup and re-strategize for political relevance.
