Former Senate President Bukola Saraki has called on leaders and stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to put aside their differences and accept the recent ruling of the Court of Appeal on the party’s disputed national convention.

Reacting to Monday’s judgment concerning the PDP national convention held in Ibadan last year, Saraki urged party leaders to treat the verdict as the final point in the legal dispute and focus instead on rebuilding the party through a fresh convention that complies with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

According to Saraki, waiting for a possible ruling from the Supreme Court could jeopardise the party’s preparation for upcoming elections, particularly given the revised electoral timetable released by 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. Otherwise, we would not meet the deadlines for completing the process of nominating candidates,” he said.

He warned that continued litigation could create uncertainty over the validity of candidates nominated on the PDP platform, which could ultimately harm the electoral prospects of party members seeking to contest various offices.

Saraki emphasised that the primary responsibility of a political party is to provide a credible platform for candidates to contest elections, noting that internal disputes should not undermine that purpose.

The former Senate President also called on party leaders who may have been dissatisfied with the court ruling to rise above personal interests and prioritise the future of the party, especially with an eye on the 2027 general elections.

“I know that at this stage, egos have been bruised. However, the difference between an ordinary man and a statesman is the ability to rise above personal interests and serve the larger common good,” he stated.

Saraki stressed that many grassroots members of the PDP are already mobilising resources and support with hopes of contesting elections for positions ranging from state assemblies to the presidency. He warned that prolonged internal conflicts could deny these aspirants the opportunity to participate in the democratic process.

To resolve the crisis, he proposed that party leaders end all legal battles, engage in dialogue, and organise an all-inclusive national convention that will elect new party officers in line with INEC regulations.

“The only viable option open to all of us is to sit down, discuss, and work towards holding an all-inclusive national convention within the INEC timetable,” Saraki said, urging leaders to adopt a spirit of compromise and allow the party to move forward.