Begins Work On His Return To The SENATE
The race for the 2027 elections in Nigeria is a big deal for many politicians, whether directly or indirectly through their actions or inactions. Since Dr. Bukola Saraki left public office, the political landscape has changed significantly. The former Senate President and ex-Governor of Kwara is also seeking to regain relevance in politics and plans to make a bold move in the upcoming 2027 elections. To turn his vision and plans into reality, he needs to realign his strategies.
According to a reliable source, about two of Saraki’s close aides have disclosed his plans on how he intends to make a strong comeback in 2027. One of the aides stated, “Dr. Bukola knows that the current administration in the center will not be easily dislodged. Instead of positioning himself as an opposition figure, he wants to align with them to fulfill his next political ambition.”
Additionally, it’s important to note that Saraki was uncertain about the success of the coalition against President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, even before some major members of the PDP officially defected to the ADC. It was rumored that Saraki intended to follow Governor Wike’s strategy of remaining in the PDP while collaborating with the ruling government to stay influential at the center.
Many governors from both the APC and PDP have pledged their loyalty to the president in hopes of securing their political futures. This situation implies that opposition governors are unlikely to fund a new coalition, which has made Saraki reluctant to publicly align with any such movement. He remarked a few months ago, “Given the current situation, the possibility of me leaving the party is zero. No current APC governors are ready to defect to the PDP or SDP; in fact, I can name about five PDP governors who are leaning towards the APC. The remaining PDP governors are not willing to support the party financially.”
Currently, there are reports that the former Senate President is working toward regaining a Senate seat in 2027 and aims to install a governor in his home state of Kwara. These two objectives are at the top of his agenda.
So how does he plan to achieve this? It appears he is not looking to confront the APC government directly. One of his media aides stated, “For 2027, he wants to contest for a political office because his constituents have been urging him to run. He feels compelled to run, as people gather at his home daily seeking assistance. For almost a decade, without holding any political office, he has been using his personal funds to support his initiatives, helping the people of his state and many Nigerians in need.” The aide added, “He would not mind working with or aligning himself with the President to realize his ambitions for a second term if it can also help him achieve his goals.”
Several people have suggested that he was interested in a return to the APC, but that has been flatly denied. Insiders say Saraki is not keen on making a spectacle. Instead, he may be charting a Wike-style course: remaining in the PDP, hedging his bets, and leveraging quiet influence rather than seeking visible rebellion. This approach is shrewd in a fragmented opposition where funding is scarce and loyalty is transactional.
Back in Kwara, the Saraki political machine is bruised but not broken. Party leaders insist that the dynasty remains intact, and Saraki appears committed to restoring its strength. He’s not pursuing presidential ambitions—not at least for now. Instead, he is quietly consolidating influence that could prove decisive in the tightly contested 2027 elections.
However, it has been repeatedly stated that the immediate concerns for Dr. Bukola Saraki are to unite the party members and to find solutions for better management of the party.
The Saraki Support Group (SSG) has been diligently working behind the scenes to ensure that the vision for 2027 is achievable. This group is one of Dr. Bukola Saraki’s major political organizations in Kwara State, and its past contributions have been significant.
Reports suggest that the group is prepared to further solidify Dr. Saraki’s relevance in Kwara politics. In Kwara State, particularly in Ilorin, many of the former governor’s loyal supporters remain hopeful, believing that 2027 will bring better prospects.
Currently, there is little love lost between the state’s governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, and Dr. Saraki, but the latter is known for his approach to politics, rarely engaging in open confrontations. It’s possible that the two may collaborate in the future for federal interests, especially if it could garner significant support for the President in the state.
Another crucial point is that Dr. Saraki, beyond his personal ambitions, aims to strengthen the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to compete effectively with other major political parties in the future. During our last conversation with Lawal Akanbi Sharafadeen, the media aide to Dr. Saraki, we learned that he is not seeking immediate gains for the PDP. Instead, his primary focus is on repositioning the party and restoring it to its former stature.
Several media analysts have suggested that Dr. Saraki is aware that the presidency may return to the North in 2031. They note that the PDP is currently weakened and unprepared to compete with the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting him to build a formidable party in anticipation of 2031 when the presidency will likely be zoned to the North.
Dr. Saraki has repeatedly been mentioned as a potential presidential candidate from the North. Being from the North Central region, he is more than qualified to vie for the top position. Even if he does not secure the ticket, he would likely be compensated with a significant role within the party, having been appointed as the head of the committee to resolve internal issues.
Since the inception of this committee, Dr. Saraki has engaged with various stakeholders, including governors and the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to gain an impartial understanding of the challenges faced by the party. Progress has been made in resolving several issues within the PDP, leading to the reinstatement of key figures, such as the party’s secretary and the acting national chairman. Gradually, a sense of peace is returning to the PDP, and with this peace and unity, the party can regain its strength.
However, some individuals may choose to leave the party regardless of these developments due to their personal agendas. Many of these individuals are either trying to maintain relevance or have been rejected at the grassroots level. While some see themselves as the only viable candidates for the party, true democracy should ensure a level playing field for all members. It is essential for the PDP to return to its original guiding principles in order to provide credible opposition to the current governing party. The focus should be on creating an effective alternative so that citizens can find hope in the opposition when they lose faith in the ruling party, as disclosed by his aide.
Additionally, while working at the federal level, Dr. Saraki is seeking clarification from the federal government on how state matters will be managed. Remember that he was a senator representing the Kwara Central Senatorial District, a seat he lost in the 2019 election to the APC’s Ibrahim Yahaya Oloriegbe. Currently, the Kwara Central senatorial district is represented by Saliu Mustapha of the APC, and Dr. Saraki is already working on plans to unseat the current senator.
The Saraki Support Group is actively mobilizing and sensitizing Kwarans, especially those disillusioned with the current governor’s performance, to return to Dr. Saraki’s political camp. In fact, many people who had previously left the PDP for the APC are now returning to the PDP. Dr. Bukola Saraki has remained quiet but is diligently strategizing on how to approach these developments.
Again, a few weeks ago, close media aides mentioned that many people are still uncertain about how Dr. Bukola will align with Wike in the PDP. “While this concern is valid, I would like to provide an insider perspective as someone with a liberal mindset. Rather than focusing solely on Wike’s perspective, let’s analyze the entire situation more comprehensively and recognize Saraki’s unique abilities one of Saraki’s aides offered. “Over the years, he has proven to be a power broker, a team player, and a skilled leader.
“At the onset of the current crisis, the party was in disarray until Dr. Bukola was appointed as the Chairman of the Reconciliation and Strategy Committee. In just a week or two, he achieved what many pundits deemed impossible. Issues that had long troubled the party, where factions claimed they could never work together, were resolved under his leadership.
In a matter of weeks, he managed to bring everyone back to the negotiation table, even in situations where communication had previously been nonexistent. Despite the long-standing tensions since the last election, Bukola took charge and made significant progress in a very short time”.
