Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, declared said “there was no victor and no vanquished” as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wrapped up its 100th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, calling the outcome a big step forward for both the party and Nigerian democracy.
The meeting, held despite a police presence around the party’s national headquarters the night before, brought together key party figures who, according to Saraki, agreed to work together and move past recent challenges. In a statement personally signed and released after the gathering on Monday, Saraki stated that unity had taken precedence over division.
“This evening, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), successfully concluded the 100th edition of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting,” he wrote. “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.”
According to Saraki, what happened at the meeting was a clear example of putting party interest ahead of personal ambition. He said all leaders in attendance agreed to come together, rebuild trust, and commit to peace in order to keep the party strong.
He wrote, “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.”
Saraki also noted that millions of PDP supporters across the country would feel hopeful again after the meeting. He believes that the party must now focus on rebuilding and offering true leadership to Nigerians as the major opposition.
He continued, “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.”
He said what made him especially pleased was that all sides agreed unity is key to showing Nigerians that PDP remains a force for good governance. He also shared that the leaders had open conversations where they made compromises for the sake of the party’s future.
Looking ahead, Saraki said the party’s attention would now turn to the NEC meeting scheduled for July 23 and preparations for the upcoming National Convention.
In his role as Chairman of the PDP Reconciliation and Strategy Committee, Saraki thanked party leaders who gave up earlier positions on some issues in order to keep the party united.
He added, “It is good that we have disappointed the pessimists. I hope that with the outcome of today’s meeting, we have disproved the false propaganda being circulated in some quarters that those of us who chose to remain in PDP are only scheming for the death of the party as opposed to building a strong opposition.”
Saraki ended by appreciating all members of the party and urging them to keep the positive energy alive as the PDP prepares for future battles at the national level.
