A former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has declared that “there was no victor and no vanquished,” following the 100th National Executive Committee meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party, describing the outcome as a win for both the party and Nigeria’s democracy.

Despite a disruption at the PDP National Secretariat by police operatives on the eve of the meeting, party leaders convened as scheduled and resolved to close ranks.

Saraki, in a personally signed statement issued after the meeting on Monday, said the party chose peace and unity over division.

He said, ”This evening, our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), successfully concluded the 100th edition of its National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

“It was a symbolic gathering, as the meeting could have either been the breaking point, going by events of the last 48 hours, or the junction to cross the Rubicon and march forward into greater heights. Our esteemed leaders chose the latter.

“Today, there was no victor and no vanquished. The winner today is the PDP.

“Another winner is Nigeria’s democracy because, without a vibrant opposition, democracy dies.

“Again, millions of our party members and supporters, who are located in all the 774 LGAs across the country, also emerged winners.”

Saraki added that party leaders resolved to put their differences aside and move forward together.

“To achieve victory for the party and the great people under its golden umbrella, all the leaders at the meeting resolved to jettison our differences and rally together to pursue a common goal: forget the past, rebuild trust that might have been broken, and give peace a chance.”

Expressing optimism, he noted the PDP must live up to its role as Nigeria’s main opposition.

“I am particularly happy about the meeting for two reasons.

“One, we all agreed on the need for unity as a way of sending a signal to the entire nation that the PDP can only wax stronger.

“This is because we have to live up to the expectations of the generality of our people as the only alternative capable of providing good leadership to our country.

“Two, the spirit of give and take dominated our frank discussions.”

Saraki said the next focus would be the NEC meeting scheduled for July 23, followed by preparations for the party’s National Convention.

In his words,”As the chairman of the National Reconciliation and Strategy Committee set up by the PDP Governors Forum in May, I want to appreciate all our leaders, particularly, those who have to make huge sacrifice by conceding their earlier stands on some contending issues as a way of achieving peace, unity and stability in the party.”

He commended leaders for putting the PDP first, saying their actions disproved critics who believed the party was headed for collapse.

“It is good that we have disappointed the pessimists. I hope that with the outcome of today’s meeting, we have disproved the false propaganda being circulated in some quarters that those of us who chose to remain in PDP are only scheming for the death of the party as opposed to building a strong opposition.

“If this false narrative were true, the leaders who shifted positions to give peace a chance would have chosen an alternative course of action.

“However, we are determined to make the party a strong opposition, capable of winning the next general election and serving our people better.

“We only need to forge ahead along these lines.”

He concluded by thanking party members nationwide and expressed hope that the momentum from the NEC meeting would be sustained.

“Once again, I thank all our leaders and the numerous members of this great party for their efforts,” Saraki concluded.