Saraki Exposes Forces Behind PDP’s Internal Struggles

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on PDP members to put the party’s interests ahead of personal ones.

In an interview with Leadership, Saraki claimed that the party’s unity is still seriously threatened by conflicting egos, conflicting interests, and outside meddling ahead of the 2027 election.

Managing an opposition party presents challenges that are very different from those of a ruling party, Saraki explained.

Decision-making often follows a command-and-control framework in a ruling party. In an opposition party, however, things are different. A definite superiority does not exist. Patience and negotiation are necessary, he said.

He emphasized that the PDP’s leadership is made up of people with a wealth of political experience, past governors, legislators, and other powerful persons, each of whom brings their unique goals and viewpoints.

Although diversity is a strength, it sometimes causes friction that needs to be handled properly.

In every political organization, disagreements are inevitable, but there are times when one’s own ego must be put aside. Priorities must be given to the party, the nation, and democracy, Saraki said.

In addition to internal disputes, Saraki made reference to how outside factors influenced the PDP’s internal dynamics. He proposed that competing political players frequently take advantage of or even exacerbate divides among the opposition.

Every endeavor is made to make it appear like we are to blame for all of our issues. However, the truth is that outside factors can contribute to the escalation of internal problems, he stated.

Saraki reminisced about previous party crises and the efforts party leaders had made to keep the party cohesive and avoid disintegration. He emphasized that judicial involvement cannot take the place of political discourse, even though he acknowledged that some disagreements resulted in litigation.

“Court procedures may deal with some problems, but they are not the best option. Ultimately, political players need to go back to the bargaining table and settle their disputes, he said.