- Saraki praised PDP leaders for choosing unity over division during the 100th NEC meeting despite recent internal tensions.
- The meeting was seen as a pivotal moment for either collapse or progress, and leaders chose the path of reconciliation.
Former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has said that within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), there are neither winners nor losers in the current political context.
Saraki stated that the successful convening of the PDP’s 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting serves as a testament to the triumph of both Nigerian democracy and the nation itself.
Despite an earlier disruption caused by operatives of the Nigeria Police Force at the party’s national headquarters, the PDP proceeded with its scheduled NEC session.
Commenting on the meeting’s outcomes, Saraki noted that participants reached a collective understanding to strengthen internal cohesion and foster party unity.
“This evening, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), successfully concluded the 100th edition of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting,” Saraki said in a statement.
“It was a symbolic gathering, as the meeting could have either been the breaking point, going by events of the last 48 hours, or the junction to cross the Rubicon and march forward into greater heights. Our esteemed leaders chose the latter.
“Today, there was no victor and no vanquished. The winner today is the PDP. Another winner is Nigeria’s democracy because, without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies.
“Again, millions of our party members and supporters, who are located in all the 774 LGAs across the country, also emerged winners.
“To achieve victory for the party and the great people under its golden umbrella, all the leaders at the meeting resolved to jettison our differences and rally together to pursue a common goal: forget the past, rebuild trust that might have been broken, and give peace a chance.
“I am particularly happy about the meeting for two reasons. One, we all agreed on the need for unity as a way of sending a signal to the entire nation that the PDP can only wax stronger.
“This is because we have to live up to the expectations of the generality of our people as the only alternative capable of providing good leadership to our country. Two, the spirit of give and take dominated our frank discussions.”
Saraki further underscored the symbolic nature of the gathering, suggesting that, given the tensions of the preceding 48 hours, it could have marked a critical point of division. Instead, party leaders opted for reconciliation and collective progress.
He reiterated that the party’s commitment to internal reconciliation signaled not only PDP’s resilience but also the health of Nigeria’s broader democratic process, which depends on the presence of a strong and principled opposition.
Additionally, he praised the meeting for reflecting a renewed willingness among members to set aside personal grievances, rebuild mutual trust, and focus on shared objectives, especially in anticipation of future national leadership responsibilities.
Saraki concluded by highlighting two key outcomes of the session: a shared consensus on unity as a strategic imperative, and the prevalence of a conciliatory atmosphere that characterized the discussions.