ABUJA, Nigeria — Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has distanced himself from the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ibadan, warning that proceeding with the event in the face of conflicting court orders will deepen the party’s crisis and endanger Nigeria’s democracy.
The convention is scheduled to hold on 15 and 16 November in the Oyo State capital.
In recent weeks it has become the focal point of a fierce internal battle, with rival factions securing opposing court judgments over whether the gathering can legally go ahead.
An earlier ruling by a Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the PDP from holding the elective convention.
That position was challenged on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, when an Oyo State High Court ordered the party and its acting national chairman, Umar Damagum, to continue preparations.
On Tuesday, November 11, 2025, however, another Federal High Court in Abuja issued a fresh order stopping the party from conducting the convention or having the Independent National Electoral Commission supervise or recognise its outcome, throwing the process into further uncertainty.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after a meeting with the PDP board of trustees reconciliation team, led by former Nigerian ambassador to the United States Hassan Adamu, Saraki said the overlapping court directives had pushed the opposition party into dangerous territory.
According to him, the peace meeting was “meaningful and incisive”, as stakeholders discussed how to rescue the PDP from escalating internal strife.
But he warned that the present course around the convention was untenable.
“I expressed deep regret that, despite the selfless and arduous efforts by some of us, the Convention has become mired in extensive controversy, both political and legal,” Saraki said.
“This does not bode well for not only our party, but for Nigeria’s democracy in general.
“I made it clear to the BOT team that political matters can hardly be resolved through the courts. Affairs of political parties are best resolved amicably with all sides seated round the table. Legal battles will only continue to cause friction.
“As it stands, the fact is that there are conflicting court orders in relation to the validity of the scheduled convention. As a result, there is no assurance as to whether the conduct and outcome of the convention will stand.
“As a leader, on whose shoulder lies the political weight of the yearnings and aspiration of my people, I cannot in all good conscience take or be part of any action that will jeopardise their aspirations.”
Saraki urged the reconciliation team to recommend the immediate formation of a caretaker committee to temporarily steer the party, arguing that an interim leadership structure established “within the next two days” could help rebuild trust and provide a reliable platform for aspirants in future elections.
“In the current situation, no serious politician will risk contesting on a platform whose nominations could later be nullified,” he said.
He insisted that holding the convention in Ibadan under the current conditions would be reckless.
“It is clear that going ahead with the National Convention in Ibadan on 15-16 November 2025 will only serve to further fuel the present crisis,” he said.
“Therefore, going ahead with the Convention as scheduled is a waste of efforts. It does not have my support. It’s not too late to find a win-win solution.”
Saraki’s intervention comes as the PDP grapples with a fresh wave of suspensions and counter-suspensions within its national leadership.
The Damagum-led national working committee recently suspended national secretary Samuel Anyanwu and several other top officials.
In response, the Anyanwu-aligned faction, backed by Federal Capital Territory minister Nyesom Wike, announced the suspension of Damagum and key members of his team.
Anyanwu’s camp later named Abdulrahman Mohammed as acting national chairman.
Mohammed, appearing at the party’s national secretariat last week, declared himself acting leader and announced that the convention had been suspended.
Despite this, the Damagum-led leadership has maintained that the Ibadan gathering will proceed as planned, setting the stage for a showdown that could test both the party’s cohesion and the limits of the competing court orders now hanging over its internal processes.
