PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection – Newstrends
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PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

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3 weeks ago

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PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

Former Senate President Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has dismissed recent high-profile defections from the Delta State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), claiming there is no need for concern and that the party is entering a period of rebirth and reconstruction.

In a statement on his X, Saraki said, “Following the development in the Delta State Chapter of our party, I have been inundated with phone calls from leaders and members of our party as well as various youths who have been active in promoting democracy and good governance in our country.”

Speaking directly on the defection of top party leaders, he said, “My view is that those who want to leave the PDP should leave now and let the rest of us who want to stay concentrate on rebuilding the party and refocusing it to play the role of a viable opposition that will provide a better alternative for the good people of Nigeria.”

Saraki highlighted the need for a robust opposition in Nigeria’s democratic space, warning against the danger of one-party dominance.

“To sustain democracy, there must be viable choices for people at every point. Also, there must be a viable opposition to keep people’s hope alive and create credible alternatives to keep the government on its toes.”

“A one-party state, as being disingenuously designed by some people, will not augur well for a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-cultural, multi-religious, and highly diversified society like ours. It is even more dangerous when we eliminate alternatives and make people hopeless.”

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“It is in the interest of Nigeria and the survival of our democracy for the opposition to be vibrant and strong enough with the capacity to replace the ruling party at any point.”

The PDP chieftain described the current situation as a moment of clarity for the party, saying, “Those who want to leave the party should go and let those of us remaining have a clear view of who we are talking to and where their political loyalty lies.”

“All we need is for those who want to stay back in PDP to show commitment, and we can all work to rebuild the party.”

Speaking on recent developments, he said, “This development has vindicated the stance of people like me who have decided to remain silent and watch events unfold. I have seen that there was no sincerity with supposed leaders of the opposition. One was not sure of the next person one was talking to.”

Saraki called for perspective and patience, saying, “The sustenance of democracy is not a sprint. Rather, it is a marathon. It is not a knockout football match series. It is a league. 24 hours is a long time in politics, and nobody can predict how the dynamics will evolve in the coming weeks and months.”

“PDP members across the country should not be discouraged, disillusioned, disappointed, or demoralised by the development in Delta State. We should stay strong and focus on strengthening the party. It is not necessary at this point to lament why they left.”

He warned against externalising blame, “Our party members should also refrain from blaming our woes on the ruling party. That would be a lazy approach. They are playing politics to win elections. It is our responsibility as party members to ignore their antics and seize the moment and momentum to make our party stronger and better.”

Commenting on the defection of Delta’s governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his deputy, Saraki noted, “Yes, it is unbecoming and shocking for the running mate to the standard bearer of a leading party to abandon ship to join the ruling party. This is unprecedented, and nobody should try to justify such an act with talk of being put under pressure. It is simply a sign of how low we have sunk as a polity.”

Saraki also stressed the need for institutional integrity over personalities: “These developments in the polity are the reason why I have always canvassed the idea that we should emphasise building and strengthening our institutions and not individuals.”

Amid the current setbacks, Saraki remains optimistic about PDP’s chances: “With the defection of the governor of Delta State, even if the party has only ten governors in its fold, the PDP is still in a good position to win the next round of elections.”

“The PDP is better with fewer members who are loyal, sincere, determined, dedicated, and committed to its ideas, ideals, and progress than to have so many who will identify with us in the afternoon and be romancing the ruling party in the night.”

Furthermore, Saraki added that the two years remaining before the next general election is ample time to reposition the party: “That is a long time in politics. We have enough time to brace up to the challenge. There is nothing that prevents us from getting some governors from the other parties to join our ranks.”

Saraki appealed to the youth and women of the party, saying, “My appeal to our young party members is that this defection is just a mere challenge to us to further mobilise and put our house in order. Also, our women’s wing should seize the opportunity to help in the rebuilding mission.”

“The PDP will come out stronger from this development.”

“I am very sure the various leadership organs of our party will soon make public their reaction to this development and convey the necessary meetings to strategise on how to strongly and strategically respond to it. Therefore, there is no cause for alarm.”

“Our party members should not lose focus, hope, or the determination to win. We should see the current development as a challenge to rebuild and refocus the party. Tomorrow is very bright,” Saraki added.

PDP will come out stronger, Saraki reacts to Okowa, Delta gov defection

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LP crisis: Nenadi Usman dares Abure over threat

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12 hours ago

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May 16, 2025

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LP crisis: Nenadi Usman dares Abure over threat

Chairperson of the Labour Party (LP) caretaker committee, Nenadi Usman, has dared Julius Abure to follow through on his threat to expose Peter Obi, Alex Otti and other key members aligned with her faction of the party.

Speaking during an appearance on Sunrise Daily, a Channels Television programme, on Friday, Usman dismissed Abure’s threats as bluster, challenging him to bring forward any evidence he claims to have.

Earlier in the week, Abure, the factional national chairman of the Labour Party, had accused Obi, Otti and others of hypocrisy over 2023 election funding, threatening to reveal damaging information.

“I am waiting for them—from top to bottom—to make any other move and I will open my mouth,” he said.

“And when I open my mouth, wherever they go, they will be like smelly eggs, rotten eggs that nobody will ever buy.”

In response, Usman said the Labour Party has documented evidence of Abure’s misconduct, some of which is already under police investigation.

“Well, I am challenging him to expose us. If you have anybody to expose, you don’t go and talk now, you go and expose them,” she said.

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Usman added, “We have a lot of things about him and that is why the people whom he did it to went to the police. The police are investigating him and very soon you will hear about it.”

A Party in Crisis

Usman described the current turmoil in the Labour Party as an assault on internal democracy, warning against the erosion of opposition values.

“Generally, you would agree with me that every democracy needs to have a vibrant opposition,” she said.

“So when the opposition wants to become part of the ruling party, then there’s a problem. And that is where we are today.”

Usman argued that Abure’s term as national chairman has ended and that the LP was simply acting in line with the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) directive to fill the leadership vacuum.

“Principally, the Labour Party leadership at some point had issues with INEC because the tenure of Abure and his NWC had come to an end,” she said.

“Which was why when INEC invited leaders of political parties, he attended the meeting and was told to step out with his secretary.”

 

LP crisis: Nenadi Usman dares Abure over threat

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South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position

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2 days ago

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May 15, 2025

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South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position

The crisis rocking the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has worsened as the South East caucus threatened mass exit if its choice of  Sunday Udeh-Okoye as national secretary was not respected for the umpteenth time.

This comes as the Governor of Enugu State and leader of the party in the zone, Dr. Peter Mbah, rallied members of the party in the zone to speak with one voice.

Equally expressing disappointment at development in the party, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Senator Adolphus Wabara, and former governor of Imo State, Chief Achike Udenwa, described the refusal of the party in allowing the zone to complete its tenure as secretary as disturbing anddisrespectful.

The zone vented its displeasure in a communique read by the Zonal Chairman, Chief Ali Odefa, at the end of a meeting by the South East Zonal Executive (ZEC) at the Government House, Enugu, yesterday.

It said the meeting was convened to nominate a candidate to complete the remaining term of the position of national secretary in line with the directive of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, during its 600th meeting in Abuja.

Odefa said: “The South East ZEC exhaustively deliberated on the directive of the NWC and came to the conclusion that it offered a sure pathway to peace, unity, stability, and progress of our party. Consequently, the ZEC unanimously recommended Sunday Udeh-Okoye as the candidate to complete the term of office of the National Secretary.”

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The South East PDP, however, regretted that it had to go through the process of nominating Udeh-Okoye several times since October 2023, and urged the NWC to not only immediately ratify his nomination, but also ensure that Setonji Koshoedo effectively occupies the Office of the National Secretary in acting capacity pending Udeh-Okoye’s ratification by the NEC.

The South East PDP, however, threatened to review its continued membership of the party should its position suffer further delay despite its agelong loyalty to the PDP.

“The South East has consistently served as a stronghold of the PDP from inception. In PDP’s near three-decade existence, we have given our loyalty and all to the party.

“Currently, while the party has been losing key members post-2023 general elections, the South East PDP is at the vanguard of strengthening the party by rallying major opposition figures such as in Enugu where the Labour Party (LP) gubernatorial candidate, two LP House of Representatives Members, numerous members of the House of Assembly, among other stalwarts into the PDP fold.

“Therefore, we hope that this time around, the position of the South East PDP regarding the Office of the National Secretary is accorded the honour and immediacy it deserves. This would bring to a closure to the needless lingering dispute over the matter.

“However, in the event that our position is not promptly implemented by the Party, the South East PDP, as a family, will be compelled to reconsider our relationship with the PDP going forward,” the communique concluded.

Wabara, on his part, said it was in order to review the region’s relationship with the party should what he described as trampling of the zone by the party persist.

“We have been trampled upon, not taken seriously. If such a position were vacant in the South-South, it would not be like this. And now, it came to us. I mean, the usual thing is to play politics with the Igbo man. Yes, we may have to reconsider our stand as far as the party is concerned. But I trust the NWC,” he stated.

Udenwa, on his part, Udenwa said: “We are expecting that this issue will be finally ironed out once and for all. We do not want to be taken for granted by anybody again.”

South-East may dump PDP over national secretary position

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Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others

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2 days ago

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May 14, 2025

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Labour Party Chairman, Julius Abure

Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others

National Chairman of the Labour Party, Julius Abure, has fired back at critics within the party, including 2023 presidential candidate Peter Obi and Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, over recent allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

Speaking on Tuesday in Abuja, Abure challenged his opponents to prove they gave him or the party any money during the 2023 elections. He denied ever receiving funds for personal use and warned that if provoked further, he would reveal damaging details about them.

“I want to challenge all of them. I saw some of them on television talking about corruption. Let any of them from Peter Obi down come forward and publicly declare what they personally gave to me or the party,” he said.

“Who brought the money? Who was it given to? Where was it sent? I challenge them today to come out boldly with or without evidence and say it. Otherwise, let them forever remain silent.”

Abure said he had kept silent until now in the interest of peace within the party. But he declared that the time for silence was over.

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“As a leader, I kept quiet thinking they were making mistakes and would eventually come around.

“When issues about election agents and funds came up, I said nothing because I believed I should accept the good, the bad, and the ugly within our fold.

“But now that some have crossed the line, I have no choice. If they provoke me further, I will reveal everything. When I open my mouth, they will stink like rotten eggs no one wants to touch.”

He also announced plans to hold a world press conference to address the growing internal crisis in the party.

Turning to Governor Alex Otti, Abure accused him of not contributing financially to the party during the elections.

“That governor who is jumping like a cricket from one point to another, we did not collect a dime from him. If he gave money to anyone, let him come forward and say so,” he said.

“When we met at Transcorp, he asked me, ‘Chairman, what do I do for you?’ I told him, ‘Nothing. Use your money for your campaign.’”

Labour Party Chairman Abure vows to expose Obi, others

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