By Abiola Olawale
A former President of the Senate and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Reconciliation Committee, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has sounded a stark warning about the future of Nigeria’s leading opposition party, predicting more high-profile defections in the coming months.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time, Saraki acknowledged the PDP’s ongoing internal struggles but expressed confidence in the party’s ability to rebuild and reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Saraki’s remarks come amid a wave of high-profile defections that have shaken the PDP, particularly in its traditional strongholds.
Notable exits include Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, Cross Rivers State Governor Umo Eno who recently joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) alongside other key figures.
Saraki, addressing these losses, cautioned that the PDP “has not seen the worst of defections,” pointing to unresolved internal disputes and elite-driven grievances as key drivers.
He asserted: “PDP would likely see one or two more defections, and we should prepare ourselves for that, there is a possibility.
“We haven’t seen the worst of the defections for PDP. We would probably see maybe one or two governors who will defect, and we might see some senators who will defect.
“For some of us, this happening early in PDP is an advantage. We are lucky that this is not happening, let’s say late 2026, we would not even have had time to recover and regroup.
“We have just under two years to the election, and we are lucky to have that. I think, with a lot of commitment and understanding, it is not a lost cause.
“A party of over 26 years of history, that has been around, the largest party, we will have low times like this.”
Despite the looming threat of further defections, Saraki emphasized the PDP’s enduring strength at the grassroots level.
He continued: “When you go round the country, the state chapters, the local government chapters, the party is still very strong in the grassroots.
“In some areas in the country, they are not even aware of what is happening at our level, in Abuja.
“The reactions we are seeing at the grassroots give us a lot of encouragement. But what we need to do is to get to the bottom, and start to build.”
