Kwara PDP crisis deepens as factional guber candidate dumps Saraki, flouts ward suspension
The internal crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has taken a dramatic dimension in Kwara State as Alhaji Hassan Oladimeji, a governorship claimant within the party, officially severed political ties with former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki.
Oladimeji, who emerged as the governorship flagbearer under the Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led national faction of the party, declared on Saturday that Saraki is “no longer my leader,” signaling a major realignment within the main opposition structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“You can’t suspend a non-member”
The development follows a recent announcement by the Magaji Ngeri Ward leadership in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara State, which suspended Oladimeji from all party activities for one month over alleged anti-party activities and gross misconduct.
Dismissing the disciplinary action as “baseless and meaningless,” Oladimeji argued that a faction he has already left lacks the constitutional authority to penalize him.
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“First of all, on the issue of faction, it’s a well-known fact that there are two factions in PDP — the Wike-led and the Turaki-led factions,” Oladimeji stated. “By my political association, I’ve been a member of the Wike faction. But I have since left them. I am no longer part of them. So, I belong to the Turaki camp.”
He added: “If I don’t belong to you, who are you suspending? So, the suspension is baseless, meaningless because you can’t suspend someone who isn’t a part of you.”
Oladimeji further asserted his legitimacy within the parallel national hierarchy, pointing out that he serves as a member of the Turaki-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) and featured prominently during the faction’s recent adoption of former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate.
25-Year political alliance unravels
Acknowledging his long-standing relationship with the former Kwara Governor and Senate President, Oladimeji noted that while he respects their history, the national polarization between the camp aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike and that of Kabiru Turaki has forced a permanent separation.
“Yes, Bukola Saraki has been my leader for 25 years. I’ve worked with him for that long. But for now, I am not working for him,” he declared.
“It is known that Wike and Saraki are in the same camp. As far as Kwara State is concerned, for the Wike group, Saraki is the leader. But he can also be the leader of Turaki group; it is not possible. We don’t have a Rambo coalition in Kwara.”
When questioned about potential reconciliation, the factional candidate lamented that the refusal of certain national leaders to embrace internal dialogue had severely damaged the party. He revealed that multiple warnings were given to party managers before the situation escalated to its current parallel state.
He also strongly denied widespread speculation that he was operating as an undercover agent for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the Kwara opposition from within.
“I am not working for APC. APC is a party, PDP is a party, except you want to make me ‘Wike of Kwara’ which I am not prepared to do. Maybe we may have a meeting point, but for now, I am not working for APC. That is categorical. And I don’t work in secret. If I want to do something, I come out openly and do it.”
The brewing crisis in Kwara State is a direct local offshoot of the wider national PDP split, where rival factions led by Dr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed are locked in a battle for legitimacy, operating parallel structures nationwide ahead of the 2027 polls.
In Kwara, this dispute has yielded two competing governorship candidates. Following a controversial consensus arrangement among aspirants during the primary season, the Saraki-aligned mainstream faction recognized Engr. Bolakale Kawu (Kale Kawu) as its official candidate. Refusing to step down, the Turaki-led camp declared Oladimeji as its parallel flagbearer.
The suspension letter issued on Tuesday—signed by Magaji Ngeri Ward Chairman, Prince Aliyu Kolawole, and Ward Disciplinary Committee Chairman, Taofeek Jimba—stated that Oladimeji’s refusal to appear before a seven-member investigative panel amounted to an admission of guilt.
However, with Oladimeji digging in his heels and drawing battle lines against the Saraki political structure, the Kwara PDP remains deeply fractured as the race for the state’s top seat intensifies.
