PDP Convention Proceeds Amid Saraki’s Last-Minute Caretaker Proposal

By: Abudu Olalekan

PDP convention. This weekend. Supposed to be unity. Feels more like a showdown.

Delegates are arriving. Buses pulling in from Lagos, Kano, Enugu. Suitcases, party badges, side-eyes. Over 3,000 of them. Two-thirds of the states already confirmed. Venue? Lekan Salami Stadium. Looks like a rainbow exploded—blue, yellow, PDP flags everywhere.

But behind the banners? Chaos.

Courts are talking. Different languages. One judge says stop. Another says go. Justice Omotosho blocked it—said the party didn’t follow its own rules. No signed notice sent to INEC. Big deal. So he barred election monitors.

Then Justice Akintola said, nope, carry on. Gave an ex parte order. Convention can proceed.

And just like that—green light.

But wait. Justice Lifu also ruled. Said no convention. Why? Sule Lamido couldn’t get a nomination form. Wanted to run for National Chairman. Denied. So he sued. Judge paused everything.

Now what?

Kamorudeen Ajisafe, the PDP’s South-West Vice Chairman, shrugs. “Conflicting judgments,” he says. “Only a superior court can bind us. These are coordinate courts. Persuasive, not binding.”

Translation? We’re doing it anyway.

Ajisafe stands near the stage, phone glued to his ear. Delegates are coming. Stakeholders. Observers. Even diplomats. Broadcasts in Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa, English. Global audience. Can’t back down now.

But then—Bukola Saraki speaks.

From Abuja. Calm. Measured. Urges suspension. Says the convention is “mired in controversy.” Warns it’ll deepen the crisis. Calls for a caretaker committee. Neutral. Temporary. To fix the mess.

“Political disputes,” he says, “should be settled with dialogue. Not litigation.”

Makes sense. On paper.

But in the stadium? Different story.

Olajide Stanley, Secretary of the Venue Sub-Committee, walks around like a man with a mission. “We’re 60% ready,” he says. “Stages up. Flags flying. Logistics? Heavy. Lagos-Ibadan road is a nightmare. Trucks stuck. But we’re moving.”

Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal is there too. Watching. Nodding. Governor Seyi Makinde’s team is all in. Hosting this thing. Can’t afford failure.

Then—Bode George. The old lion.

He fires back. Calls Saraki’s idea “arrant nonsense.” Says delegates are already here. “If they don’t like it,” he snaps, “they should leave.”

Strong words.

George blames Ajibade, the suspended Legal Adviser. Says he’s behind the legal tangles. “We’re going ahead,” he insists. “The founding fathers are turning in their graves.”

Ouch.

Meanwhile, INEC is silent. Legal team reviewing the rulings. Decision coming “soon.” Will they show up? Or boycott?

No one knows.

Reportersroom spoke to a delegate from Abuja. Arrived Wednesday. “We came to elect leaders,” he said. “Not watch lawyers fight.”

Another from Ogun shook his head. “This party used to be strong. Now it’s drama after drama.”

And the caretaker committee idea? Some like it. Neutral ground. Time to reconcile.

Others? See it as a power grab. A delay tactic.

Gbenga Hashim-Olawoepo agrees with Saraki. “No serious aspirant will contest under this uncertainty,” he says. “Unity first.”

But Damagum’s camp isn’t budging. Suspended Anyanwu, Bature, Ajibade. Accused them of anti-party moves. Now pushing forward.

So here we are.

Two factions. Two narratives. One stadium.

Will it hold?

The world will be watching. Literally. Live streams. Translations. Diplomats with notebooks.

Can the PDP pull it off?

Or will Ibadan become the weekend the party cracked?