Former Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has called on leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to put aside personal grievances, accept the recent Court of Appeal verdict nullifying the 2025 Ibadan national convention, and prioritize party unity by organizing a new, INEC-compliant national convention without further delays.
In a statement reacting to Monday's (March 9, 2026) Appeal Court judgment which upheld lower court decisions restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the November 15-16, 2025 convention in Ibadan, Saraki described the ruling as a definitive end to ongoing legal battles that have plagued the opposition party.
Saraki emphasized the urgency imposed by INEC's revised timetable for the 2027 general elections, warning that pursuing appeals to the Supreme Court would make it impossible to meet nomination deadlines and leave uncertainty over the validity of any PDP candidates' tickets.
"My own position is that the Court of Appeal has ruled," Saraki stated. "However, with the revised timetable by INEC, it is obvious that there is no time to wait for the Supreme Court decision. Otherwise, we would not meet the deadlines for completing the process of nominating candidates."
He argued that the primary role of a political party is to serve as a platform for aspirants seeking elective offices, from state assemblies to the presidency, and that prolonged litigation risks undermining the ambitions of countless dedicated grassroots members who have invested time and resources in the PDP."Feuding leaders should not allow their ego and personal differences to jeopardise, undermine, and defeat the aspirations of these honest, devoted and committed party members by depriving them of the opportunity to subject themselves to the verdict of the electorate," he added.
Saraki acknowledged the bruised egos following the verdict but urged party figures to demonstrate statesmanship by rising above personal interests for the greater good of the PDP and Nigeria's democracy."The difference between an ordinary man and a statesman... is the ability to rise above the din and ignore personal interests to serve the larger common interests and public good," he said.
He proposed that the way forward involves ending all litigation, embracing dialogue, and convening an all-inclusive national convention aligned with INEC guidelines. This, he suggested, should involve a "give-and-take attitude" to accommodate diverse interests and elect new party officers.
"Some of us have warned and advised about the dangers of travelling this route," Saraki noted, referencing earlier cautions about the path leading to the disputed convention. "Since we have found ourselves here, our focus should be on how to get back on the path of full recovery, stability, and progress."
The former Kwara State governor stressed that letting "the sleeping dog lie peacefully" is essential, with no room for continued "bickering and grandstanding" given the tight timeline to 2027.
Saraki's appeal comes amid deep factional divisions in the PDP, exacerbated by conflicting court rulings and internal power struggles leading up to and following the Ibadan convention. His statement, issued through his media office, positions him as a voice advocating reconciliation and pragmatism to preserve the party's viability as a major opposition force ahead of the next elections.
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