Two former Senate Presidents at odds over scheduled national convention
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is sharply divided ahead of its national convention set for November 15–16, 2025, in Ibadan. Senator Adolphus Wabara, Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), insists that the convention should go ahead, while former Senate President Bukola Saraki strongly opposes it, warning of deeper crisis and legal uncertainty.
Wabara made his position clear at his Abuja residence during the presentation of the BoT Reconciliation Committee’s report. He said all major organs of the party—including the Governors’ Forum, the National Working Committee (NWC), and the BoT itself—had agreed that the convention must hold.
Saraki calls for suspension, proposes caretaker committee
Saraki, however, has urged the PDP to suspend the convention, citing deep-seated legal and political controversies. In a sharply worded statement, he said moving forward under the current conditions will only worsen the party’s internal divisions.
He argues that several court rulings contradict each other, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the convention and its possible outcomes. To restore calm and confidence, Saraki has called for the immediate establishment of a Caretaker Committee to oversee party affairs temporarily.
Legal uncertainty fuels Saraki’s concerns
Saraki has raised alarm over conflicting judicial orders: while an Oyo State High Court gave permission for the convention to proceed, a Federal High Court in Abuja issued an injunction barring it. He insists that pressing on without resolving these contradictions could undermine the credibility of any elected leadership.
“Holding the convention now under such political and legal fire will only deepen the fracture within the party,” Saraki said.
Wabara defends BoT’s decision, rejects delay tactic
Wabara has defended the BoT’s decision to stick to the original schedule. He warned that only a valid court order could derail the plan. He also dismissed suggestions that the crisis is irreparable, arguing that the discord is largely driven by personal ambition rather than existential threats to the party.
He criticized calls for delay or caretaker leadership, saying such moves risk handing a political victory to those he described as “some individuals who want the PDP dead now, and then resurrect it later.”
Reconciliation committee report adds pressure
The BoT’s Reconciliation Committee, led by Ambassador Hassan Adamu, had earlier submitted a report following consultations with key PDP stakeholders, including governors and prominent party figures. While the committee is believed to have offered a roadmap for resolving the crisis, Wabara insists that the convention must still go ahead before some issues can be tackled.
What’s next: unity or further division?
With just days to go, the internal struggle raises serious questions about the PDP’s capacity to manage its internal democracy. Saraki’s insistence on delay reflects broader anxieties among party members that the convention could entrench factional control or produce disputed outcomes. Meanwhile, Wabara’s firm backing signals that one of the PDP’s most senior organs is keen to project strength and determination.
For many observers, the coming convention may not just be about electing leadership—it could define whether the PDP emerges united or splintered in the face of leadership challenges.
