•Saraki leads strategy committee to rescue party
•Only PDP can save Nigeria, not coalition of bitterness, revenge – Lamido
Last Monday, the leading opposition party in the country, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), set up a seven-man committee, led by former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, to chart a way forward for the ailing PDP.
Contrary to media reports, Saturday Sun gathered that Saraki is not leading a Reconciliation Committee, but rather a “PDP Strategy Committee on Way Forward.” It was further gathered that the Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s Reconciliation Committee remains intact,
The Saraki committee, Saturday Sun’s investigations revealed, was the outcome of a meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum, which was attended by its serving and former governors. At the meeting, held at the Bauchi Governor’s Lodge, Abuja, the following chieftains of the party – Governors Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Caleb Muftiwang (Plateau), Peter Mba (Enugu), Sen. Seriake Dickson, Sen. Ibrahim Dankwambo, and Chief Okezie Ikpeazu, were nominated to serve in the committee.
The immediate task of the committee is to prepare ground for a rancour-free National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, proposed for May 27, and also to fashion out modalities for the party’s national convention proposed for August this year. It was gathered that only a successful NEC meeting would guarantee the August date of a national convention.
Saturday Sun recalls that this will be about the sixth time the party would be postponing its NEC meeting. For instance, at the 98th NEC meeting, held on April 18, 2024, leaders of the party were unable to resolve several contentious issues bedevilling the party, especially the tenure of the current acting National Chairman. It, therefore, resolved to hold its 99th meeting on August 15, 2024 to look at the unresolved matters, with a view to taking a position on them. However, the meeting could not hold and was first postponed to October 24, 2024, then rescheduled for November 28, 2024, before it was finally postponed indefinitely.
But by December, the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, met and directed the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to ensure the NEC meeting was held, latest, by February this year. Before February, however, the PDP Governors’ Forum, again met in Asaba, the Delta State capital, on January 31, and decided to shift the NEC meeting to March 13. Not long after, the PDP national leadership again announced another date for the NEC meeting, fixing May 15, 2025. But by Monday, May 12, the party leadership again announced May 27th as the new date for the NEC meeting, thereby, making it the sixth time the meeting was postponed.
Sources close to the party, however, told Saturday Sun that they have confidence in the Saraki-led Strategy Committee, insisting that May 27th date would not change.
“Whoever suggested Saraki must be very smart. Saraki is a smart and experienced politician who had gone through political persecution in the hands of a government in power. He knows where the political landmines are and he knows how to navigate through,” one of the sources said.
Asked what the committee is doing with regards to the threat from South-East PDP to pull out, another source close to the committee said: “We are conscious of the fact that in the entire South-East, Enugu is the only place where we have a governor, we will not fold our arms and lose him and his followers by our action or inaction. I can confirm to you that Oga (Saraki) has reached out. I can assure you that the matter is being handled. It is a delicate situation, and it must be handled in such a way that we do not lose either of the parties. We will work out a win-win situation in the end.”
This is just as he said the PDP was not really bothered about the defections that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been harvesting. He was however quick to add that PDP’s survival is in the best interest of the ruling APC.
Speaking in the same vein, former Jigawa State Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, also noted that “Nigeria’s democracy thrives on a vibrant opposition. If you destroy the PDP, you are not just destroying a party — you are setting Nigeria on a path to self-destruction.”
He accused President Bola Tinubu and the ruling APC of weaponising the instruments of state to weaken opposition parties. The former governor warned that if the trend continues unchecked, it would not only hurt the democratic fabric but ultimately consume all those who orchestrated it.
“If APC as a political party fights the PDP, that’s normal. But when the federal government itself — under APC control — uses national institutions against the opposition, that’s dangerous. It’s not just APC members fighting us; it’s the government and the president himself. Using EFCC and other agencies to intimidate and weaken opposition parties amounts to self-destruction. Those joining the APC out of fear will eventually regret it.
“Tinubu believes he is securing his political future by weakening the PDP. What he doesn’t realise is that by doing so, he is weakening Nigeria itself. Democracy is built on liberty, freedom, and credible opposition. Destroy the opposition, and you destroy the nation. The fear of persecution by agencies like the EFCC is forcing many political figures into a suicidal alliance with the ruling party. But disillusionment would eventually drive many back to the PDP. “The PDP remains the only hope for saving Nigeria’s democracy. The coalition of 2014 that led to the creation of APC was organic — it involved real political parties like CPC under Buhari, AC under Tinubu, and ANPP under various governors, alongside former PDP governors. But this current so-called coalition is a coalition of hate, anger, pain, and revenge. You cannot build a nation on bitterness. If you lose an election, you must reflect and rebuild, not act out of resentment. Today, PDP remains organised with structures like the NWC, NEC, BOT, the Governors’ Forum, and its National Assembly members still intact. Those who left should simply come back to the PDP. Coalition is not new — PDP itself invented coalitions back in 1998 and 2014. PDP is a big political umbrella. Why should I cover my big gown with an inner shirt? APC and their allies are small compared to PDP. As for 2027, there is no covenant between Tinubu and God guaranteeing him victory. Power belongs to the people,” Lamido said.
Also speaking on the wave of defections to the APC, another source noted that they do not, in any way guarantee victory for the APC, noting that “the moment we are able to hold our NEC meeting in May and then convention in August, by December, this year, things will begin to look good for our party. In 2023, did APC not go into that election with 25 states, how many states did it win outright? Only 12, right! What about Atiku? He went in with 11 and won 12 states. Peter Obi had no governor anywhere, yet, he won 11 states, including the FCT. please forget the defections. It cannot guarantee victory.
“Look at Lagos today, when he (Tinubu) was not the president, he had absolute control. One would have expected that as the president now, the control should be more, isn’t it? But you saw the House of Assembly mess and you can see the protest going on over Local Government primary election. That is to tell you that no party is immune from crisis. I won’t say more than that for now, but watch for an implosion in the APC,” he said.
The Sun
