Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has urged leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to end ongoing litigations over the party’s disputed national convention and focus on organising a fresh one in line with electoral guidelines.
Saraki made the appeal on Tuesday through a statement posted on his X handle and signed by his media office head, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in response to a Court of Appeal ruling that upheld previous judgments invalidating the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.
He emphasised that the party must accept the verdict and move quickly to hold a new national convention according to the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Saraki warned that prolonged litigation could jeopardise the chances of party members aspiring to contest the 2027 general elections and create uncertainty over the validity of nominated candidates’ tickets.
“One of the key purposes of a political party is to provide a platform for candidates to serve the people through elections. We should not defeat this purpose,” he said. Saraki called on aggrieved party leaders to put aside personal interests and prioritise the collective future of the PDP.
He stressed the importance of preserving the party for grassroots members who have invested time and resources to contest elections across legislative and executive positions, including the presidency. “Feuding leaders should not allow personal differences to undermine the aspirations of honest, devoted, and committed party members,” Saraki added.
The former Kwara State governor advocated for an inclusive national convention with a give-and-take approach that accommodates all interests and adheres to INEC guidelines. “There is no time for continuous bickering and grandstanding,” he said.
This statement followed the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissing the PDP’s appeal against the October 31 judgment by Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, which restrained INEC from recognising the outcome of the Ibadan convention. The three-member appellate panel unanimously ruled against the PDP, holding that the Federal High Court’s decision was correct and awarding N2 million in costs against the Turaki faction of the party for filing a frivolous appeal.
The court also rejected the PDP’s claim that the trial court lacked jurisdiction, confirmed the plaintiffs’ right to institute the suit, and ruled that the party was not denied a fair hearing. Other pending judgments and rulings of the party will be considered in subsequent hearings.
