Former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, has said the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is the only political party that could present a credible alternative to Nigerians.
Saraki, in a goodwill message at the national convention by a faction of the party loyal to Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja on Sunday, said PDP is alive and kicking.
“We know that if, by any default, our dear party is unable to produce candidates in the next round of elections, then it means the party has been naturally laid to rest.
“By the grace of God, it will not be under our watch that this party will die through non-participation in the general election,” he added.
The former Kwara State governor, who promised to be part of the reconciliation process in the party, stated that the primary aim is to create a platform for those who want to aspire in 2027.
“To do that, we must ensure we have the validity of our processes.
“The benefit of having a platform that can produce validly nominated candidates for the 2027 polls has been the motivation for some of us to participate in this National Convention,” he explained.
He appealed to aggrieved members to join in rebuilding the PDP and create a viable platform for all aspirants to achieve their goals and aspirations, and wondered what democracy in Nigeria would be without the PDP.
“PDP epitomises democracy in Nigeria,” Saraki added, “We now have a party, and people can no longer blackmail our aspirants by saying to them that they will not be on the ballot paper.
“Now, we know PDP will be on the ballot paper. PDP has come to stay, and Insha Allah will be victorious.”
The former Senate President, however, stated that the convention is only a means to an end, but not an end in itself.
He charged the newly elected party’s National Working Committee (NWC) members to work “strenuously, continuously, and consistently on the path of reconciliation.”
According to him, their mandate is to go and win the 2027 elections for the PDP at all levels.
“They must not fail in this task. In fact, they must surprise everyone with a very successful outing for the party in next year’s elections,” he said, and called for transparent, credible and rancour-free primaries for the election of candidates.
“They must avoid the pitfalls of the past and create a primary process that will make all contestants work for the success of the eventual candidates,” he said.
