Saraki insists PDP will contest 2027 elections, says unity overrides friction

Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has voiced confidence that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will take part in the 2027 general elections, stating on Thursday that Nigerians who witnessed the party’s record while in power will ensure it remains on the ballot.

Acknowledging the existing disagreements within the opposition party, the former Senate President said leaders across various factions have agreed that the party’s participation in the next elections must take precedence.

He noted that ensuring aspirants can contest elective positions on the PDP platform remains a top priority for stakeholders.

“I’m happy to say that despite whatever side anybody finds himself or herself in these disagreements, everybody has resolved that this is the number one priority for all of us,” Saraki said.

He stressed the need for the party to remain united in its drive to field candidates in 2027, adding that any issue capable of jeopardising that objective must be set aside.

“Whether you are Governor Seyi Makinde, Governor Bala, the FCT Minister, or anyone else — including those who are neither — the key priority is that PDP must be able to field candidates for the 2027 elections,” he said.

“Anything that will harm that or make it impossible must be set aside and resolved. I think that is where we are now, and it has not been easy to reach this position. We hope to maintain it and move forward.”

Saraki further underscored the importance of a functional leadership structure within the party, insisting that the PDP must produce a National Working Committee (NWC) capable of organising its activities and steering preparations for the 2027 polls.

“The processes to achieve this are very clear. We must have a National Working Committee that will be able to deliver on this,” he added.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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