Saraki Urges PDP to End Legal Battles, Focus on Fresh Convention

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to withdraw all ongoing litigation surrounding the party’s disputed national convention and instead concentrate on organising a new one that adheres to electoral guidelines.

In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media office, Saraki reacted to the Court of Appeal’s judgement, which upheld earlier rulings that invalidated the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.

The former Kwara State governor urged the party to accept the verdict and promptly work towards holding a fresh convention in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

“My own position is that the Court of Appeal has ruled. However, with the revised timetable by INEC, it is obvious that there is no time to wait for the Supreme Court decision,” Saraki stated.

Risk to 2027 Elections

Saraki warned that prolonging the legal disputes could endanger the political ambitions of party members intending to contest the 2027 general elections under the PDP banner.

“If our motive is to see that we do not jeopardise the chances of our numerous members who want to contest elections on our platform, then this consideration should be the priority of all of us in the party,” he said.

He emphasised that political parties exist primarily to provide platforms for candidates seeking elective offices, and internal conflicts should not undermine that fundamental purpose.

“One of the key essentials of a political party is to provide a platform for candidates seeking to serve the people by contesting elections. We should not defeat this purpose,” Saraki added

Call for Unity and Dialogue

The former Senate President also appealed to aggrieved leaders within the party to set aside personal grievances and prioritise the collective interest of the PDP.

“At this stage, egos have been bruised. However, leaders should rise above personal interests and serve the larger common good,” he said.

Saraki stressed the importance of dialogue and compromise among party stakeholders to organise an all-inclusive national convention that would produce a widely accepted leadership.

“The only viable option open to all of us is to sit down, discuss, and work towards holding an all-inclusive national convention at a time that will comply with INEC guidelines,” he noted.

Harmattan News previously reported that the Court of Appeal in Abuja upheld the Federal High Court’s decision nullifying the PDP national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.

The appellate court barred INEC from recognising the convention’s outcomes, including the election of Taminu Turaki as the party’s national chairman.

The convention had also resulted in the suspension of several allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, including National Secretary Samuel Anyanwu, National Legal Adviser Kamaldeen Ajibade, Deputy National Legal Adviser Okechukwu Osuoha, and National Organising Secretary Umaru Bature.

Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam held that the party failed to comply with constitutional requirements before conducting the convention. The court noted that no valid notice was served on INEC as required by law, and valid congresses were not held in more than 14 states ahead of the convention.

The panel dismissed appeals filed by Turaki and other NWC members and awarded N2 million in costs against the appellants. The judgement marks the first appellate ruling on the contentious convention after months of conflicting decisions from courts in Abuja and Ibadan.