The former Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, has described Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq as a “desperate drowning politician whose popularity and acceptability is at the lowest ebb.”

Saraki, whose description of the governor followed alleged move by the state government to initiate the 2018 Offa bank robbery incident against him, despite the investigation by the former Inspector General of Police that eventually freed him, said the action was “a desperate ploy by a drowning politician.”

Saraki, in a statement personally signed on Friday, denied involvement in the robbery, saying he had “nothing to do directly or indirectly with any case of armed robbery or any criminal matter whatsoever.”

Also, the Kwara State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at a press conference, on Friday accused Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, of attempting to reopen and politicise the long-concluded Offa robbery case, alleging that the move is aimed at blackmailing Saraki, and distract the public from governance issues.

The party’s State Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, described the development as “disturbing, insensitive, and a dangerous attempt to reopen old wounds for political gain.”

He said the party was alarmed by reports suggesting a renewed push to revisit the tragic 2018 Offa robbery incident, which had already gone through full judicial scrutiny.

Adewara said that the governor’s actions were politically motivated and coincided with what he described as growing support for the PDP in the state.

“Just like the overwhelming majority of Kwarans, we are shocked by recent reports alleging a plan by the governor to reopen and politicise the already concluded judicial process surrounding the tragic Offa robbery incident, with a calculated attempt to frame the leader of our party,” he said.

According to him, the PDP views the alleged move as a sign of political desperation, claiming that the governor is struggling with waning influence within his party and public dissatisfaction over poor governance.

“It is evident that Governor Abdulrazaq is now overwhelmed and has lost grip of leadership within the APC in Kwara State. Even within his party, there is growing discontent over his failure to address worsening insecurity,” he stated.

According to Adewara, “this came up as the result of resurgence of the PDP in Kwara,” pointing to recent rallies in parts of the state, describing it as evidence of growing public support.

He explained: “the governor’s desperation is not unconnected with the massive resurgence of the PDP across Kwara State. The unprecedented turnout at our recent rallies has clearly debunked the claim that the PDP is dead.”

On the Offa robbery case specifically, the PDP spokesman insisted that legal authorities had already cleared Saraki of wrongdoing, referencing legal advisories issued by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), which he said found no evidence linking Saraki to the crime.

Quoting one of the advisories, he said: “For the Senate President and the Kwara State Governor, this office is unable to establish from the evidence in the interim report a nexus between the alleged offence and the suspects.”

He further cited another excerpt: “With regards to the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, since there is no departure from the earlier findings in the interim report, this office is still unable to establish any prima facie case against him for offences of criminal conspiracy, armed robbery, and culpable homicide.”

He stressed that suspects were already prosecuted and convicted at trial, with appellate courts affirming judgments, while the matter is currently before the Supreme Court.

He challenged the state government to make available all relevant legal documents rather than relying on what he called “selective and misleading narratives.”

“We challenge Governor Abdulrazaq and his propaganda machinery to present the complete legal records to the public rather than selectively peddling misleading narratives aimed at deceiving citizens,” he said.

It, however, warned against “weaponisation of tragedy for political purposes,” urging Offa residents, especially families affected by the robbery incident, not to allow themselves to be drawn into political conflict.

“It is both unreasonable and illogical to associate a statesman of Dr. Saraki’s standing with such a heinous crime,” Adewara said.

The party further urged security agencies to monitor developments closely, alleging that the situation could heighten political tension in the state.

“We hereby place security agencies on notice. The governor’s actions appear capable of generating unnecessary tension and disorder,” he added, calling on the Commissioner of Police and the Department of State Services in Kwara State to remain alert.

The PDP maintained that it would not remain silent in the face of what it described as attempts to “poison the political atmosphere” in the state, insisting that Kwara must not be plunged into crisis for political reasons.

The press conference ended with a call for restraint, accountability, and respect for judicial records in public discourse.

Meanwhile, it was quoted that the state government has officially filed a 20-count charge against former Senate President Bukola Saraki and former Governor Abdulfatai Ahmed over their alleged arming of top suspects convicted in the tragic robbery incident of April 2018.

The other suspects are the Chief of Staff to Governor Ahmed Yusuf Abdulwahab and another aide, Alabi Olalekan.

The long awaited trial with charge No: kWS/114C/26 comes after the Court of Appeal upheld the conviction of the suspects, including Ayo Akinnibosun, who had confessed during trial to being a hit man of Saraki’s political dynasty.

Saraki and others are to face a 20-count charge of culpable homicide and criminal conspiracy, among others. They will be arraigned before Hon. Justice Haleemah Salman of the Kwara State High Court of Justice in Ilorin.

But the former Senate President accused the state government of deliberately plotting to ruin him politically by linking him to the robbery.