By Ayomide Otitoju
Oyo State Governor and host of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday said the 2025 Ibadan convention would be remembered as the gathering that repositioned the party nationally. He made the declaration in his welcome address at the event held at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.
Makinde described PDP members as resilient, noting that the party had fought a “long stretch of battle” to arrive at this moment. “By the grace of God, this convention will go down as the one that brought a turn-around to the PDP nationally,” he said.
Welcoming delegates to the Oyo State capital, the governor encouraged visitors to enjoy the city’s culture and cuisine, urging them to savour Ibadan’s signature amala and gbegiri alongside their political engagements.
Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Adamawa State Governor, Umaru Fintiri, said Nigerians were looking to the PDP to rescue the country from its current challenges. He urged the party to reinvent itself, acknowledging that internal fractures had weakened its cohesion but insisting the PDP’s “soul remains intact.”
“We have an opportunity, especially with this convention, to answer this call,” Fintiri said. “Whatever has happened to Nigeria in recent years has also happened to our party. But in the midst of it all, some of us remained. The soul of the party is still intact.”
He called on former members who left the party to return, stressing that unity and renewed commitment were essential as new national officers are elected.
In separate goodwill messages, representatives of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Board of Trustees (BoT) and National Assembly caucuses affirmed that the successful hosting of the convention demonstrated the party’s resilience.
Speaking on behalf of the PDP Governors, Zamfara State Governor Dauda Lawal said the party had arrived in Ibadan as “a united front” with a shared mission to safeguard Nigeria’s future. He called for maximum support from members to strengthen the party.
BoT Chairman, Senator Adolphus Wabara, said the successful convention was a testament to the PDP’s democratic spirit and enduring relevance. He praised Governor Makinde for his role in hosting the event and urged members to remain steadfast.
“This party will not die,” Wabara declared. “This gathering reaffirms our collective commitment to unity, progress and service to the Nigerian people.”
He advised the incoming National Working Committee (NWC) to embrace inclusiveness, deepen consultations and run a leadership style anchored on discipline, courage and focus.
Senator Abdul Ningi, speaking for the PDP Senate Caucus, said the large turnout proved that the party “is not dead and cannot die,” while Hon. Fred Agbedi, representing the House of Representatives Caucus, pledged the lawmakers’ support for efforts to reposition the PDP. Agbedi warned against internal saboteurs, saying no organisation grows without confronting its challenges.
With strong messages of unity and renewal, the Ibadan 2025 convention signalled the PDP’s determination to rebuild, reposition and reaffirm its place in Nigeria’s political landscape.
