By Abuja, Nigeria
A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has alleged that a former Senate President Bukola Saraki is secretly working as a land agent for the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, in Abuja, deepening the controversy surrounding the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
Sani made the claim during an interview on Trust TV and monitored by AfrikTimes while reacting to Saraki’s recent comments on the lingering dispute within the PDP.
The opposition party has been grappling with internal divisions among key stakeholders and factions across the country, a development that has continued to fuel tensions ahead of future political contests, especially the 2027 general election.
Recall that AfrikTimes earlier reported that the former Senate President had called on the party to reconcile all aggrieved members in order not to jeopardize the ambition of members who would want to contest different electoral positions under the umbrella of the party. Criticising Saraki’s intervention in the crisis, Sani argued that the former Senate President’s views were unnecessary and did not help in resolving the internal disagreements within the party.
“I have tremendous respect for Saraki and I have tried to avoid joining issues with him, but on his matter, I must tell you, he is not needed,” Sani said during the interview.
He further alleged that Saraki’s comments were influenced by his perceived alignment with a faction within the party believed to be loyal to Wike. According to Sani, this position makes Saraki unsuitable to offer guidance on resolving the crisis.
“His advice is definitely not necessary and misplaced because he is fully with the Wike faction. He is even rumored to be, with due respect, an agent for Wike selling lands in Abuja,” he alleged.
Sani also maintained that the legal aspects of the party’s crisis should now be determined by the highest court in the country. He stressed that the final interpretation of the issues lies with the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“What matters now is that the Supreme Court needs to take this matter into ordinance because it is the Supreme Court that laid out the basic rule. All other courts are merely quoting the Supreme Court,” he added.
The PDP has continued to face internal tensions following disagreements among its leading figures over party leadership and political alignment. As at the time of filing this report, neither Saraki nor his media team is yet to make any public comment.
