2027 Elections: Saraki, Other Key PDP Leaders Absent from Party's National Convention, List Emerges
- Ibadan surged with political energy on November 15, as hundreds of delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) filled the Lekan Salami Stadium for the party’s 2025 national convention
- The two-day event, from November 15 to 16, has drawn party leaders from all 36 states, signalling what many described as a defining moment ahead of the 2027 general elections in Nigeria
- At the event, several party chieftains, including serving governors, were conspicuously absent, raising fresh questions about their unity ahead of the 2027 elections amid its quest to displace the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
Legit.ng journalist, Ridwan Adeola Yusuf, has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
Ibadan, Oyo state - As the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets underway in Ibadan, Oyo state, some prominent figures, including governors, in the opposition party, have yet to arrive.
Legit.ng highlights prominent PDP leaders and former office holders who were absent.
Source: Twitter
PDP leaders absent from national convention
1) Bukola Saraki
Saraki served as the 13th president of the Nigerian senate from 2015 to 2019. He was elected the President of the 8th senate on June 9, 2015, under the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He previously served as the governor of Kwara state from 2003 to 2011 and was elected to the Senate in 2011, under the PDP, representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District. He was then re-elected in the 2015 general elections on the platform of the APC.
In 2018, he left the ruling APC and returned to his former party, the PDP.
2) Governor Siminalayi Fubara
A member of the PDP, Fubara has served as the governor of Rivers state since 2023.
He was in office after his successful election on May 23, 2023, until his suspension on March 18, 2025, by President Bola Tinubu, who declared an emergency rule as well as replaced him with Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas.
Fubara's suspension was eventually lifted on September 18, 2025.
3) Governor Ademola Adeleke
Adeleke has been serving as the governor of Osun state since 2022. He served as the senator representing the Osun-West senatorial district from 2017 to 2019.
He contested in the 2022 Osun state gubernatorial election under the platform of the PDP and defeated incumbent governor, Isiaka Oyetola of the APC, who defeated him in the 2018 Osun state governorship election rerun.
Despite the internal crisis rocking the PDP at the national level, Adeleke has expressed confidence that the impasse will not hinder his bid for a second term, declaring that he is “cruising to victory” ahead of the August 8, 2026, governorship election.
Source: Facebook
4) Sule Lamido
Lamido served as the governor of Jigawa state from 2007 to 2015. He previously served as the Foreign Affairs minister of Nigeria from 1999 to 2003. He is a key member of the PDP.
In October, former senator, Shehu Sani, hailed Lamido.
He wrote on his Facebook page:
"I don’t belong to the PDP, but I must say this; the democratic credentials of Sule Lamido are unequalled and unmatched by anyone seeking the same office with him as reported. His political experience and history tower above anyone in the context (PDP chairmanship race) and space of the issue in discussion."
Ajadi storms PDP convention after defection
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that businessman Olufemi Ajadi arrived at the PDP convention venue on Saturday morning, November 15.
Speaking with journalists, he expressed confidence that the convention marked the party’s full return to national relevance after what he called “years of turbulence and internal repair.”
Ajadi noted that the gathering offered the party a fresh opportunity for reconciliation and strategic repositioning.
Proofreading by Kola Muhammed, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
