Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Saturday, declared that the Peoples Democratic Party 2025 National Convention in Ibadan, Oyo State, would go down in history as the gathering that marked a major turning point for the party.

Makinde, who is the host governor of the convention tagged “Ibadan 2025,” made the declaration while welcoming delegates at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, in Ibadan, the state capital.

He described party members as resilient, noting that the PDP had endured a long stretch of battles to reach the point where it could successfully hold the convention.

“I want to welcome everyone to this convention—the resilient members of the PDP. Let me use this opportunity to welcome you to Ibadan, the state capital.

“We have fought a long stretch of battle to get to this point, but here we are. And by the grace of God, this convention will go down as the convention that brought a turnaround to the PDP nationally.

“As you go around, don’t only politick. You should also use the opportunity to take amala and gbegiri in Ibadan. On that note, on behalf of the people of this state, especially members of the PDP, we welcome you,” he said.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Convention Organising Committee and Governor of Adamawa State, Umaru Fintiri, said Nigerians were looking to the PDP to rescue the country from its current challenges, adding that the Ibadan convention was a necessary step for the party to reposition itself for that responsibility.

He urged the PDP to reinvent itself, acknowledging that although the party had gone through difficult times, its core values remained intact.

He said, “Power to the party stands for a party solidly formed on the tenets of courage and democratic ideals to rescue Nigeria. And it must at all times never veer off from the course of our fundamental tenets.

“Nigeria and Nigerians are still looking up to us to play the role that has always been our tradition. Indeed, Nigeria has reset back to the pre-PDP era and is looking up to the PDP to pull it back.

“We have an opportunity, especially with this convention, to answer this call. Distinguished delegates, party leaders, to take up this call, we must agree that as a party, we have a huge responsibility to reinvent ourselves.

“We must admit that whatever bad has happened to Nigeria over the past few years has also happened to our party—fractured commitment, minimal party loyalty, and disoriented focus, which have left us disunited and in disarray.

“In the midst of all these, some of us have left, yet some of us have remained. The soul of the party is still intact because there are men and women who believe in the party’s fundamental tenets embedded in its rescue mission and its capacity to give Nigeria true democratic governance.

“Today, I want to use this opportunity to call on all members who have left the party to return home. Yes, we have had our obstacles, but we must also remember that we have had our good times.

“The journey to this convention has been bumpy—and bumpy is always the character that defines every good journey. It is a sign that we are up to a good cause. What we need is entrenched unity of purpose and better resolve and courage to soldier on beyond the election of our national officers.”

Speaking on behalf of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, said the party had arrived at the convention as a united front with a clear determination to save Nigeria’s future.

“As you can see, we are here today as a united front to take this party forward. We are appealing to everyone here to give us maximum support so that we can save the future of Nigeria. I wish us a successful deliberation,” he said.

The Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Adolphus Wabara, said he and other BoT members were fulfilled that the Ibadan National Convention became a reality, describing the event as a testament to the PDP’s resilience, democratic spirit, and commitment to building a better Nigeria.

Wabara urged party members to embrace togetherness and sacrifice.

“We are doing it again. The history of the PDP cannot be written without your support and input. I want to thank the delegates for coming, but I can’t do that without thanking the host governor, His Excellency Seyi Makinde, for his resilience and for the resources. It is not easy,” he said.

He also advised the incoming National Working Committee to deepen consultations and run inclusive leadership.