Former President of the Senate Bukola Saraki has taken a swipe at prominent politicians defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), accusing them of acting out of frustration rather than executing any strategic political realignment.
Speaking at the Consultative Conference of PDP Founding Fathers and Stakeholders held Wednesday at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja, Saraki cautioned against what he described as emotionally charged political decisions.
Themed “Reclaiming Our Legacy, Renewing Our Collective Vision,” the gathering brought together key party stakeholders amid a flurry of high-profile defections ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Saraki argued that enduring political relevance demands calculated choices—not impulsive exits born of discontent.
“I stand here as someone who has been both in and out of this party,” he said. “I left the PDP once—out of anger. But let me say this clearly: anger does not solve leadership problems. Strategy does.”
His comments follow a wave of defections from the PDP to both the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), which is positioning itself as a new opposition bloc ahead of the next presidential cycle.
Notable figures who have recently aligned with the ADC-led coalition include former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, ex-Senate President David Mark, and media entrepreneur and former presidential aspirant Dele Momodu.
Meanwhile, several sitting governors—including Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, and 2023 PDP vice-presidential candidate Ifeanyi Okowa—have crossed over to the APC, further deepening internal fractures within the party.
Despite these setbacks, Saraki struck a defiant tone, insisting that the PDP remains a force to reckon with in Nigeria’s political landscape.
“This conference is not just symbolic—it is a statement. The PDP cannot and will not be written off,” he said.
He urged party loyalists to focus on rebuilding through unity and strategic engagement, rather than allowing emotional reactions to dictate their political futures.
Saraki’s remarks come at a critical moment for the PDP, which is struggling to retain cohesion and redefine its role in a shifting political terrain ahead of 2027.
