The Kwara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed recent moves by the state government to reopen the Offa robbery case involving former Governor Abubakar Bukola Saraki and other prominent figures.
At an emergency press conference in Ilorin on Friday, the party’s spokesman, Comrade Olushola Adewara, described the development as a threat to justice, humanity, and responsible governance. He expressed shock at reports alleging that Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq was attempting to politicize the already concluded judicial process surrounding the tragic 2018 Offa robbery incident to implicate the PDP leader.
Adewara clarified that Saraki has not been served with any court processes in connection with the case. He characterized the move as a desperate attempt by a governor whose administration is nearing its end without leaving a significant legacy of performance.
The PDP spokesman cited two legal advisories from the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, dated June 22, 2018, and August 23, 2018. These documents stated that there was no evidence linking Saraki, either directly or indirectly, to the incident. Based on this legal position, suspects were prosecuted, convicted at the trial court, and judgments were upheld at the appellate level, with the matter now before the Supreme Court.
The party challenged Governor Abdulrazaq and his administration to present complete legal records to the public instead of selectively disseminating narratives aimed at misleading citizens. It called on the people of Offa, especially families directly affected by the robbery, to reject attempts to use their painful memories for political propaganda.
The PDP emphasized that it is unreasonable to associate a statesman of Saraki’s standing—a two-term governor and former Senate President—with such a heinous crime. The party warned that unlike in 2018, when similar narratives were used to manipulate public perception, it would not remain passive while the governor attempts to inflame tensions and poison the state’s political atmosphere.
The PDP placed security agencies on notice, suggesting that the governor’s actions appear designed to create unnecessary tension and disorder as a diversion from his administration’s perceived failures. The party urged the Commissioner of Police and the Director of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Kwara State to take note of this “dangerous development” and act to maintain peace and stability in the state.
