Former National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ibrahim Tsauri, has declared that the upcoming party convention will be decisive in determining whether the PDP survives or collapses as a political force in Nigeria.
Speaking in an interview with Punch, Tsauri suggested that prominent party members who recently defected to the African Democratic Congress-led coalition, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, could return to the PDP if the convention proves successful.
The former party official, who served as a key member of the Uche Secondus-led National Working Committee, emphasized the critical importance of the scheduled July 23, 2025 meeting in shaping the party’s future.
“If our meeting slated for July 23, 2025, is successful and the convention holds, the PDP will remain a formidable party in Nigeria. The convention will determine if the party dies or not,” Tsauri stated.
He expressed optimism about the potential return of defected members, particularly highlighting Atiku’s current political status. “I can tell you that if the PDP holds a successful convention by electing capable leaders, Atiku and many others who left will return to the party,” he said.
Tsauri noted a significant detail about the former Vice President’s departure, stating: “It would interest Nigerians to know that though Atiku resigned from the PDP, he has not joined any other political party, thus, leaving technically open the door for a possible return to the party.”
The former party secretary appeared to challenge comments attributed to Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, who reportedly suggested that Atiku’s exit would not negatively impact the PDP’s prospects. Tsauri offered a contrasting view of the former Vice President’s importance to the party.
“Those who think Atiku’s resignation from the PDP would enable the party to rebuild itself are not being realistic. Yes, I agree that in democratic politics, everyone is entitled to their opinions,” he said.
Tsauri emphasized Atiku’s historical significance to the party, describing him as a long-standing figurehead. “For a long time, the former Vice President was the face of the PDP. He did his best for the party but for some reasons, he left but still returned to the party. Losing someone like Atiku is a huge setback and it is sad too,” he explained.
The former party official suggested that the current exodus of party leaders might be strategic rather than permanent. “My advice is that the party should work hard and deliver a successful convention. Like I said, those who left are likely to return if we have a good convention,” Tsauri stated.
He concluded by offering insight into the motivations behind recent departures: “Some of our leaders only stepped aside to see the calibre of people we would elect at the convention to lead the party to the 2027 election.”
Tsauri’s comments come at a critical time for the PDP, which has faced significant challenges including high-profile defections and internal divisions. The party’s ability to conduct a successful convention and elect competent leadership could determine its viability as Nigeria approaches the 2027 general elections.
The former party secretary’s statements suggest that the July convention will serve as both a test of the PDP’s organizational capacity and a potential catalyst for reuniting the party with its departed members ahead of the next electoral cycle.
