Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has expressed deep disappointment over the defection of Ifeanyi Okowa, the 2023 vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Okowa, a former governor of Delta State, defected alongside his successor, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Deputy Governor Monday Onyeme, and other top Delta State officials, in a move that has stirred political reactions nationwide.
In a statement on Monday, Saraki described the defection as “unbecoming and shocking,” noting that it is unprecedented for a presidential running mate of a major party to abandon ship so soon after a national election.
He criticized attempts to justify the decision, stating, “Nobody should try to justify such an act with the talk of being put under pressure.”
Noting that Okowa’s action is unprecedented, Saraki said that nobody should try to justify such an act with the talk of being put under pressure.
The former governor of Kwara State opined that it is simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity, adding that the country is experiencing a collapse of leadership values.
“These developments in the polity are the reason why I have always canvassed the idea that we should emphasize building and strengthening our institutions and not individuals,” he said.
Saraki maintained that with the defection of the governor of Delta State, even if the party has only ten governors in its fold, the PDP is still in a good position to win the next round of elections.
Saraki assured the PDP supporters that despite the defections in Delta State, he and other leaders will remain and reposition the party to be a formidable opposition.
He appealed to the party’s leaders who still want to leave the party to do so now so that those of them that want to remain can concentrate in rebuilding it.
“My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition that will provide a better alternative for the good people of Nigeria.
“I am convinced that it is important for all Nigerians to work for the sustenance of democracy. And to sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point. Also, there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes.
“A one-party state as being disingenuously designed by some people will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless.
“Therefore, it is in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of our democracy for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point. Thus, my charge to our party members is that the PDP is merely experiencing a rebirth.
“Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies. All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment and we can all work to rebuild the party,” he said.
The ex-Senate President further appealed to PDP members nationwide to know that the sustenance of democracy is not a sprint but a marathon.
“It is not a knock-out football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months.
“That is why PDP members across the country should not be discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed, or demoralised by the development in Delta State. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party.”
According to him, it is not necessary at this point to lament why they left.
“Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections.
“It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better.”
What you should know
Bukola Saraki’s reaction highlights the internal turbulence facing the PDP as key figures defect to the ruling APC.
His message is one of resilience and forward-looking strategy, urging loyal party members to remain committed to rebuilding the opposition.
For Saraki, the survival of democracy in Nigeria hinges on the existence of a credible alternative, and he believes the PDP still has the potential to fulfill that role—if it can regroup and refocus.
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