Worst of PDP defections yet to come. If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state - Saraki

 Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee and former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has warned that the party could still face further defections as it navigates internal challenges ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking during an interview on Arise TV, Saraki acknowledged that the PDP is in a turbulent phase and should brace for additional high-profile exits.

“PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that; there is a possibility. We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP,” he said. “We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.”

Despite the looming departures, Saraki sees a silver lining in the timing of the crisis. He argued that the party has the advantage of time, with nearly two years left before the next general elections.

 

“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 noted. “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 acknowledged the party’s current low moment but pointed to its resilience and long-standing legacy.

 

“A party with over 26 years of history that has been around, the largest party, we will definitely have low times like this,” he said. He further highlighted the enduring strength of the PDP at the grassroots, saying the party’s base remains active and largely unaffected by the national-level turmoil.

 

“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,” Saraki said. “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.”

 

As preparations for the 2027 elections begin, Saraki stressed the need for reform and rejuvenation within the PDP. He called for a convention that would usher in younger leadership capable of steering the party forward.

 

“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 said.

 

Saraki concluded with a broader warning about Nigeria’s democratic future, stating that the PDP’s survival is vital to preventing a one-party state. “If PDP fails, Nigeria edges closer to a one-party state. And that would be a disaster for democracy.”