Saraki to PDP leaders: End all legal battles, hold fresh convention

Says party may miss 2027 elections over litigation

PDP won’t die, it will be on the ballot in 2027, assures Turaki faction

Emeka Agu with agency reports

Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has asked leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to end all legal battles arising from the national convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025, in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo.

Saraki made the appeal on Tuesday while reacting to the judgement of the court of appeal, nullifying the national convention.

Recall that in a ruling on Monday, the appellate courtCourt of Appeal in Abuja upheld the judgment of a federal high court, which restrained the PDP from conducting the national convention.

A three-member panel of the court dismissed an appeal filed by the PDP challenging the jurisdiction of the Abuja federal high court to entertain the suit.

But the Kabiru Turaki-led faction on Monday rejected the verdict and said it has instructed the party’s lawyers to lodge appeal at the Supreme Court.

However, in a statement issued by Yusuph Olaniyonu, head of his media office, the former senate president said the party must accept the verdict of the appellate court and focus on organising a new national convention to avoid jeopardising its chances of fielding candidates for the 2027 elections.

Saraki cautioned the PDP faction led by Kabiru Turaki against challenging the verdict of the appeal court at the Supreme Court to prolong the litigation.

“With the revised timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission (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. Also, uncertainty will continue to hang over the validity of the tickets issued to those nominated on the PDP platform.

“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,” Saraki said.

The former senate president said the key function of a political party is to provide a platform for candidates to run for elections.

“It is for these reasons that I believe the only option open to all of us is to end all litigation and work with the arrangements that are on the ground for holding a national convention within the INEC timetable.

“From the beginning, some of us have warned and advised about the dangers of travelling this route. We know that it will only imperil the party. However, since we have found ourselves here, our focus should be on how to get back on the path of full recovery, stability, and progress,” he added.

Saraki asked party leaders to put aside personal interests and prioritise the collective future of the PDP ahead of the 2027 polls, urging members dissatisfied with the court verdict to consider the party’s interests.

“My concern is how to save and preserve this great party for the benefit of the numerous members who have hinged their aspirations on the PDP platform,” Saraki said.

Saraki advised PDP leaders to meet and agree on holding an all-inclusive national convention that complies with INEC guidelines, adding that there is no time for continued bickering and grandstanding.

Meanwhile, the Kabiru Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says the party will participate in the 2027 general election despite its internal crisis.

Spokesperson of the faction, Ini Ememobong, spoke on Tuesday after an expanded meeting of the party’s board of trustees (BoT), which included governors, national working committee (NWC) members, state chairmen and other stakeholders.

Ememobong said the meeting was convened to deliberate on the implications of the recent court of appeal judgement and the party’s survival, with a view to ensuring it remains eligible to participate in the upcoming general election.

“Despite the underlying issues, the spirit in the room was clear — PDP must not die. Nigerians still look up to the PDP as a stable platform to contest elections, especially with the tight timelines outlined by INEC.

 “The guiding philosophy of the discussions was that PDP will be saved and will remain a political party that will be on the ballot,” Ememobong said.

Ememobong said party leaders considered various legal, political and strategic options aimed at safeguarding the PDP’s future.

“Several ideas, legal, social, political and even emotional, were proposed on how to ensure two things: that PDP does not die and that PDP will be on the ballot,” he said.

Ememobong said the discussions would continue today (Wednesday), expressing confidence that clearer strategies would be proposed after further deliberations.