By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to discontinue all ongoing legal battles regarding the party’s disputed national convention and instead focus on organising a new one that adheres to electoral guidelines.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media office, Saraki was reacting to the recent Court of Appeal judgment that upheld earlier rulings nullifying the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.
The former governor of Kwara State urged the party to accept the ruling and act swiftly to conduct a fresh convention in line with the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“My position is that the Court of Appeal has given its ruling. However, with the revised schedule from INEC, it is clear that there is no time to await a Supreme Court decision,” Saraki stated.
He warned that prolonged legal disputes could endanger the electoral prospects of PDP members planning to contest in the 2027 general elections.
“If our intention is to safeguard the chances of our numerous members seeking election on our platform, then that consideration must take precedence for all of us in the party,” he added.
Saraki emphasised that political parties exist primarily to offer platforms for candidates vying for public office, and internal conflicts should not subvert this objective.
“One of the fundamental purposes of a political party is to provide a platform for candidates who wish to serve the people through elections. We must not defeat this purpose,” he said.
He further appealed to aggrieved party leaders to set aside personal grievances and prioritise the collective future of the PDP.
“At this point, egos may have been bruised. However, leaders must rise above personal interests and work for the greater common good,” Saraki urged.
He also stressed the importance of dialogue and compromise among stakeholders to organise an inclusive national convention that would produce a leadership widely acceptable to all.
