Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has advocated for an inclusive and balanced approach to leadership selection within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP.
According to him, the PDP presidential ticket should be zoned to the South, while the national chairman position should be allocated to the North-Central region to ensure equity.
Saraki made the remarks on Thursday while speaking as a guest on Channels TV’s Politics Today, where he dismissed claims that the opposition party had lost relevance.
He acknowledged that the party’s current challenges have set it back but expressed optimism that the crisis could ultimately strengthen its prospects if properly managed.
Saraki also warned against the dangers of a one-party state, noting that a strong opposition remains vital to Nigeria’s democracy.
The former Senate President insisted that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remains a formidable political force despite ongoing internal crises.
Responding to insinuations that the PDP is “dead and buried”, Saraki said such perceptions are largely driven by elite political disagreements rather than the reality at the grassroots.
“When you stay here in Abuja, you might say that because of the noise that comes out from the leaders having their disagreement. But when you go out to the states, and you go into the grassroots in different states, you’ll find that PDP is still very, very strong,” he said.
On internal party matters, Saraki disclosed that although he initially opposed the PDP convention held in Ibadan, he later allowed delegates from Kwara State to participate after assurances that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be present to ensure legitimacy.
He, however, noted that the commission did not attend, stressing that the exercise ought to have been halted under such circumstances. Saraki maintained that his position was guided by principle and the need to uphold due process within the party.
