Former Governor Sule Lamido has described the party as the mother of political movements in Nigeria, claiming that many key players in other major parties, including the All Progressives Congress, were original products of the PDP.

“If you look at the APC, if you take away President Bola Tinubu, all of them are PDP. I urge those who ran away from their home to please come back. This is the party that honoured you, made you president, governor, and minister,” said Mr Lamido.

The former Jigawa governor appealed to aggrieved members to set aside individual egos for the sake of Nigeria’s democracy, asserting that the PDP remains the only credible alternative for the country.

“We are willing to forgive and forget because of PDP. Let us embrace unity. It is not about any individual. It is about Nigerian ownership,” he said. 

Meanwhile, former Senate President Bukola Saraki has reiterated his commitment to the Peoples Democratic Party’s reconciliation process, calling for unity among party members ahead of the 2027 elections. 

Speaking during the party’s national convention, Mr Saraki restated the need to rebuild trust, close ranks, and prioritise party interests over personal ambitions.

Mr Saraki described the gathering as a restoration process anchored on reconciliation, accommodation, repositioning, and rejuvenation.

“By the grace of God, it will not be under our watch that this party will die through non-participation in the general election.

“I will be part of the process of reconciliation. I call on those of us who have seen the legality and validity of the ongoing process here today, let us put our heads together and make sure that we forge ahead as a family.

“For those who are not yet here, I appeal to you, it is not about our partisan interest or individual interest. It is a collective responsibility,” the former Kwara governor said.

Mr Saraki added that, with the convention, the PDP was sending a clear signal to doubting Thomases that it is alive and kicking.

“We have created a viable platform for all our aspirants who have been spending money to build and sustain the party across the 774 LGAs in the country.

“The PDP is still there to help them achieve their goals and aspirations. I boldly say it that what is democracy in Nigeria without PDP? PDP epitomises democracy in Nigeria. This is the only party that can present a credible alternative to Nigerians.

“We now have a party, and people can no longer blackmail our aspirants by saying to them that they will not be on the ballot paper. Now, we know PDP will be on the ballot paper. PDP has come to stay,” he said.

He urged the newly elected National Working Committee to prioritise a transparent candidate selection process and a robust membership registration exercise to raise the bar for the party.

(NAN)