Former Senate President Bukola Saraki says he’s chosen to keep mum in response to the internal wranglings happening in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“As I moved around the country in the past few days, I got the feeling that many people are concerned over my seeming silence on recent developments in our party, the PDP,” the former senate president tweeted on Saturday night.

“My response is that there are times to speak and be heard and there are times when working silently behind the scenes is more productive. This is such a time. PDP and Atiku Abubakar remain the best option for Nigerians in the 2023 polls,” Mr Saraki added.

A crisis is brewing in the PDP, spearheaded by Rivers state governor Nyesom Wike and supported by the southern caucus of the party including Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde and former deputy national chairman of the party, Bode George. 

Mr Wike, who has insisted on the resignation of the National Chairman of PDP, Iyorchia Ayu, as a prerequisite to supporting the party towards the 2023 election, recently escalated his internal opposition through individual name-calling. 

On Friday, he blasted Mr Saraki and others, accusing them of being partly responsible for the loss of former President Goodluck Jonathan at the 2015 polls. 

There seems to be no resolution to the crisis as Mr Atiku’s loyalists appear ready to move on with the elections whether or not Mr Wike and members of his group are onboard. 

“Atiku left, the party survived. Ayu left, the party survived. If Wike leaves the party will survive. Obasanjo is not in PDP, it survived. You need to understand and know the limit of your operation and influence,” Mr Atiku’s spokesperson Daniel Bwala said on Friday.