The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has issued a cautionary note that the party could still witness further defections, even as internal efforts to stabilize and reposition it continue ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Friday, Saraki acknowledged the turbulence within the PDP and hinted at more political shifts on the horizon.
“PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility,” he said.
“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,” Saraki added.
Despite these looming challenges, he expressed optimism, arguing that the timing of the crisis presents a rare opportunity for the party to reorganize and emerge stronger.
“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 stated.
“We have just under two years to the election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.”
Saraki emphasized the PDP’s resilience, pointing to its long-standing presence in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“A party with over 26 years of history that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this.”
He also highlighted the party’s enduring strength at the grassroots level, suggesting that local party structures remain largely unaffected by the national crisis.
“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 said.
According to Saraki, the reactions from the grassroots have been reassuring and could serve as a foundation for rebuilding.
“The reactions we are seeing at the grassroots give us a lot of encouragement. But what we need to do is to get to the bottom and start to build.”
Looking ahead, he stressed the importance of transforming the PDP’s internal culture and preparing for the future.
“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 concluded with a warning on the broader implications of a weakened opposition, stating, “If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”
