Former PDP chieftain Umar Sani says reconciliation efforts within the party have completely broken down, insisting that both factions have now abandoned the process and returned to litigation over control of the party structure.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, Sani said the initial understanding for reconciliation was that all sides would return to “status quo ante,” but accused the rival camp of moving ahead with parallel party structures and a disputed convention.
He said, “Reconciliation has broken down. There is no more reconciliation. The idea was that everybody would return back to status quo ante, but that has not happened.”
Sani explained that both sides had initially agreed to suspend key party activities to allow dialogue, but claimed the process collapsed after one faction proceeded with its own arrangements.
According to him, “We suspended our caucus meeting in good faith. They were also supposed to suspend their convention so we could sit at a roundtable, but they went ahead.”
He further alleged that discussions between key party figures failed to yield results, insisting that commitments made during early talks were not honoured.
Sani said, “After discussions, it was said there was nothing like reconciliation and that they were going ahead with the convention. No position would be sacrificed.”
He described the situation as a takeover attempt, arguing that court rulings being relied upon by the rival camp were being contested as unconstitutional within the PDP framework.
“We challenged the court decision that recognised an unconstitutional committee. It has gone to the Court of Appeal, and we have now told them reconciliation has failed,” he said.
On claims that the PDP lacks capacity to fund presidential candidates, Sani dismissed the argument, insisting that the party has historically relied on collective contributions rather than central funding.
He said, “It is not the PDP that gives presidential candidates money. Governors and stakeholders contribute. That is how it has always worked.”
Sani also rejected suggestions that the party should abandon presidential ambitions and focus on grassroots politics, alleging that the rival bloc was aligned with the ruling APC.
“That faction is an extension of the APC. Their agenda is to weaken the PDP and support President Tinubu in 2027,” he claimed.
Despite the internal crisis, he maintained that the PDP retains its legitimate national structures, including the Board of Trustees, National Executive Committee and National Working Committee.
“Our PDP has authentic structures led by the BOT, NEC and NWC. Those are the ones we recognise,” he said.
On the legality of factional recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Sani argued that ultimate authority lies with the courts and the party constitution, not the electoral body.
Finally, dismissing calls for an opposition merger ahead of the 2027 elections, Sani said his faction remains confident in legal remedies and unwilling to dissolve into alliances.
“We are not withdrawing from the contest. We believe the courts will compel INEC to give us time to put our house in order,” he said.
He added that any decision on alliances would only arise if legal options are exhausted.
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