Former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara State, Dr Bukola Saraki, has urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party who no longer believe in the party’s vision to leave, saying their exit will allow committed loyalists to focus on rebuilding the opposition party.
Saraki made the remarks in a personally signed statement on Thursday night, reacting to a series of defections that have recently rocked the PDP, particularly in Delta State.
The most notable of these defections occurred on Wednesday when the Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, announced his departure from the PDP to join the ruling All Progressives Congress. His predecessor and political benefactor, former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, is also reportedly set to defect to the APC.
Oborevwori was elected governor in 2023 on the PDP platform, succeeding Okowa who had served two terms.
In response to these developments, Saraki said he had been inundated with calls from party members and pro-democracy youth expressing concern over the recent political shifts in Delta State.
“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,” he stated.
He emphasised the critical importance of a strong opposition in a democracy and cautioned against the emergence of a one-party state in Nigeria.
“To sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point,” Saraki said. “There must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes.”
He further warned that a one-party system, which he believes is being subtly orchestrated by certain politicians, poses a significant threat to a country as diverse as Nigeria.
“It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless,” he added.
Describing the current period as one of “rebirth” for the PDP, Saraki called on committed members to remain focused and dedicated to rebuilding the party from within.
He asserted that the party would be better served with a smaller group of genuinely loyal and sincere members than with a large number of untrustworthy individuals.
“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,” he said.
“This development has vindicated the stance of people like me who have decided to remain silent and watch events unfold.”
Saraki, who once led the National Assembly, noted that over time, he had observed a lack of sincerity among some of the party’s leaders, which made it difficult to know whom to trust.
“It is a league; twenty-four hours is a long time in politics, and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months,” he said.
Despite the high-profile defections, Saraki urged PDP members not to feel discouraged, but rather to seize the moment to consolidate and strengthen the party.
He cautioned against blaming the ruling APC for the PDP’s internal challenges, stressing the need for self-responsibility.
“Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party,” he said. “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.”
Saraki also condemned the defection of the PDP’s 2023 presidential running mate, describing it as a shocking betrayal and a new low in the country’s political history.
“Yes, it is unbecoming and shocking for the running mate to the standard-bearer of a leading party to abandon ship to join the ruling party,” he said.
“This is unprecedented, and nobody should try to justify such an act with the talk of being put under pressure. It is simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity. The country is experiencing a collapse of leadership values.”
Reiterating his faith in the party’s ability to bounce back, Saraki said the PDP could still emerge victorious in the next elections even with a smaller number of governors, so long as those remaining are loyal and committed.
“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,” he said.
He added that with about two years before the next general elections, the PDP has ample time to regroup and prepare strategically. Saraki expressed optimism that the party’s leadership would soon convene to chart a clear and united path forward.
