Dr Bukola Saraki, a former President of the Nigerian Senate, has said he remains committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) amid the ongoing internal wrangling within the party, news.ng reports.
Dr Saraki, who appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday evening, monitored by this medium, warned that the convention, which took place in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, last November, puts the party’s credibility on the line.
According to him, what motivated him to support the convention was the assurance given to him by the interim leadership of the party at that time that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) would be at the event, which prompted him to mobilise delegates from Kwara State for the convention.
He said, “You’re going to have a convention that will come out that will not have the legitimacy to carry on further. Then they reassured us, no, INEC will be there.
“I’m on the side of what is good for the party. One side had already clearly explained to us that Ibadan was not an option, which was the reality. It’s okay, we’ll give you the benefit of the doubt,” Saraki noted.
“If INEC is there to conduct that convention that will come out of that, go ahead and vote. If INEC is not going to be there and you don’t see INEC there… that action was an action that truly shows that it was not any vested interest.”
However, Saraki, a former Governor of Kwara State, said he was surprised that at the venue, no INEC officials were on the ground to monitor the convention.
“I said, look, INEC not being there, this is an exercise in futility. Let us go back, not do an elective convention. But they went ahead and did that.”
While bigwigs in the party have defected, including state governors, Saraki rubbishes claims of possible defection, reaffirming his commitment.
“There are a lot of people who think that maybe you are going to the ABC. No… my antecedents and my political career show that I’m not a follower. And I lead, and I’m very clear where I stand.
“Maybe that lack of activity has given the wrong impression… I made it clear that I’m going to stay here in PDP. When you go out to the states… you’ll find that PDP is still very, very strong… people still have this love and this affiliation for PDP,” he said.
