More Defections Loom, But PDP Will Bounce Back — Senator Bukola Saraki

Speaking during an interview on Arise News on Friday, Saraki acknowledged that the party’s internal crisis is far from over, noting that key political figures could still exit.

“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections in the PDP. We are likely to witness one or two more governors leaving, as well as some senators,” he said.

Despite this, Saraki expressed cautious optimism, describing the timing of the crisis as a potential advantage.

“For some of us, the fact that this is happening now is actually a blessing in disguise. Imagine if it were unfolding in late 2026, we would have had no time to recover. But with just under two years to the next election, we have the opportunity to rebuild and regroup. It’s not a lost cause,” he stated.

He emphasized the resilience of the PDP, a party with over 26 years of political history.

“As a party, we’ve experienced both high and low moments. This is certainly one of the lows, but we will bounce back,” he added.

Saraki also pointed out that while the crisis at the national level is real, the party’s grassroots structures remain largely intact.

“When you travel across the country, you’ll see that the party remains strong at the state and local government levels. In many areas, people aren’t even aware of the issues playing out in Abuja,” he said.

Looking ahead, Saraki stressed the need for comprehensive reform within the party.

“We must approach the next convention with a mindset for change. It cannot be business as usual. We need to bring in new, younger faces who can represent the future of this party,” he said.

He concluded with a stark warning about the broader implications of the PDP’s internal challenges.

“If the PDP fails, Nigeria risks sliding into a one-party state and that would be a disaster for our democracy,” he cautioned.