Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has called on leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to halt the spate of lawsuits arising from the party’s disputed national convention and instead work towards organising a new convention that complies with electoral regulations.
Saraki made the appeal on Tuesday through a statement posted on Facebook and signed by the Head of the Bukola Saraki Media Office, Yusuph Olaniyonu. The statement was issued in response to a judgement by the Court of Appeal affirming earlier rulings that nullified the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.
Reacting to the verdict, the former governor of Kwara State urged party members to accept the court’s decision and swiftly begin preparations for a fresh convention in line with the timetable set 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 said.
He cautioned that prolonging legal disputes could undermine the prospects of party members hoping to contest elections on the PDP platform in the 2027 general elections.
“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 added.
Saraki emphasised that the primary purpose of a political party is to serve as a vehicle for candidates seeking elective office and warned that internal wrangling should not be allowed to derail that objective.
“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,” he said.
He also appealed to aggrieved figures within the party to rise above personal grievances and focus on the broader interests 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 further underscored the need for consultation and compromise among stakeholders to organise a convention that reflects broad participation and produces leadership acceptable to the party’s various blocs.
“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 said.
The call follows a ruling by the Court of Appeal in Abuja which upheld earlier decisions of the Federal High Court of Nigeria that invalidated the PDP national convention conducted in Ibadan between November 15 and 16, 2025.
In its judgement, the appellate court barred the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the convention’s outcome, including the emergence of Taminu Turaki as national chairman of the party.
Aside from electing a new National Working Committee, the convention had also suspended several allies of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, over alleged anti-party activities.
Those affected by the suspension included the National Secretary, Samuel Anyanwu; National Legal Adviser, Kamaldeen Ajibade; Deputy National Legal Adviser, Okechukwu Osuoha; and National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature.
The crisis originated from several lawsuits instituted by dissatisfied party members who argued that the convention breached provisions of the 1999 Constitution, the Electoral Act and the PDP constitution.
Delivering the lead judgement, Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam ruled that the party failed to meet the constitutional conditions required before staging the convention.
The court found that INEC was not served a valid notice of the convention as stipulated by law and also noted that proper congresses were not conducted in more than 14 states prior to the gathering.
The appellate panel also dismissed appeals filed by Turaki and other members of the National Working Committee, affirming that the Federal High Court had the authority to hear the matter.
In addition, the court awarded costs of N2 million against the appellants.
The ruling represents the first appellate decision on the contentious convention, which had previously generated conflicting judgements from courts in Abuja and Ibadan over the past several months.
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