Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called for the immediate suspension of the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) national convention scheduled for November 15–16 in Ibadan, Oyo State, proposing instead the formation of a caretaker committee to stabilize the crisis-plagued opposition party.

As chair of the PDP Reconciliation Committee, Saraki warned that pushing ahead with the event amid a web of conflicting court orders risks deepening internal divisions, invalidating potential outcomes, and jeopardizing the party’s electoral prospects ahead of the 2027 polls. “Proceeding with the convention as planned could further imperil the party and place its prospective candidates in a precarious position,” he stated in a detailed post on his X handle on Tuesday.

Saraki’s intervention followed a “meaningful and incisive” meeting at his residence with the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) Reconciliation Team, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu. The delegation sought his counsel on restoring unity within the party, which has been sharply split between factions loyal to Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike advocating for a halt and Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who insists the convention must proceed as scheduled.

In his post, Saraki expressed “deep regret” over the convention’s entanglement in “extensive controversy, both political and legal,” which he said bodes ill for the PDP and Nigeria’s democracy. Emphasizing that “political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts” and are best settled through amicable dialogue, he highlighted the uncertainty posed by dueling judicial rulings.

Key among these: On October 31, Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the convention, citing the party’s failure to provide adequate statutory notice. This was reinforced on November 11 by Justice Peter Lifu, who restrained both the PDP and INEC from proceeding, following a suit by former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido over his exclusion from the chairmanship race.

Countering these, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan extended an order on November 12, permitting the convention to go ahead provided the party adheres to its published guidelines—a ruling valid until November 14.

Saraki urged the BoT to establish a caretaker committee “within the next two days” to steer the party’s affairs temporarily. “This is the path to true reconciliation and stability,” he argued, adding that it would restore confidence among aspiring candidates wary of nominations being declared null and void. “No serious politician with electoral ambition will seek to contest on the PDP platform” under current uncertainties, he noted. He explicitly withheld support for the Ibadan event, calling it a “waste of effort” that would only exacerbate the crisis, but stressed that “it’s not too late to find a win-win solution.”

The PDP’s woes trace back to early this year, with Saraki maintaining a conciliatory role amid escalating tensions. The acting National Chairman, Iliya Damagum, and his supporters remain committed to the convention, while Wike’s camp has cautioned members against attending, labeling it potential contempt of court. National Publicity Secretary Debo Ologunagba dismissed the legal challenges as sabotage by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), insisting the event will proceed.

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