Former Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, has issued a strong appeal to leaders and stakeholders within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to cease all ongoing legal battles and unite in the interest of the party’s future.

This call comes in the wake of the Court of Appeal’s decision on Monday, March 9, 2026, which dismissed the PDP’s appeal against a Federal High Court ruling that had barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the outcome of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan.

In a statement released by his media office, Dr. Saraki advised party leaders to accept the appellate court’s verdict as a definitive end to the litigation cycle.

He emphasized that the party is currently working against a strict timeline set by INEC for the 2027 general elections.

“With the revised timetable by the Independent National Electoral Commission, it is obvious that there is no time to wait for the Supreme Court decision,” Saraki stated. “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.”

Saraki urged leaders who felt aggrieved by the court’s decision to prioritize the party’s long-term stability and the aspirations of grassroots members over personal grievances.

He argued that continued legal maneuvering would only sow further uncertainty regarding the validity of the party’s candidate nominations.

“I know that at this stage, egos have been bruised,” he acknowledged. “However, the difference between a person and a patriot, between a follower and a leader is the ability to rise above the din and ignore personal interests to serve the larger common interests and public good.”

The former Senate President proposed that the only viable path forward is for all feuding factions to sit down, adopt a give-and-take approach, and organize an all-inclusive national convention that strictly complies with INEC guidelines.

He stressed that this is the only way to ensure the party can effectively field candidates for the 2027 elections and avoid further disenfranchising its supporters.