Court verdict: PDP factions maintain different positions 

“Note that this is the only BoT recognised as constituted by the Abdulrahman/Anyanwu-led National Caretaker Working Committee (NCWC), pursuant to the Federal High Court decision and ratified by the Court of Appeal in Abuja.

“Kindly ignore any other notice purporting to call for a meeting of the BoT.”

Ohuabunwa said only duly notified BoT members would be accredited to attend the meeting, urging non-BoT members to stay away from the venue.

Mohammed said: “The court has spoken once again that the rule of law must prevail in our party’s internal affairs.

“As we continue to work together day and night towards the conduct of our national convention, we must continue to enlighten our members and supporters to understand the judgment by the appeal court.

“However, as we proceed with this national convention, we should wait for the certified copy of the judgment by the Court of Appeal to prepare ourselves for further defence of the party at the Supreme Court, if any.

“Unity is important for the party at this stage. Of course, you heard from the speech of the National Secretary yesterday; we call on all members of our party to come so that we can work together for the progress of the party and democracy in Nigeria.

“So, we are not claiming that the victory is for an individual or a certain group. It is a victory for all. We should all put the Appeal Court aside and come to work for the progress of the party.

“For the national convention, we have statutory delegates across the 36 states and the FCT, and they are all going to participate in the national convention.”

We will fight on, says Wabara

Wabara described the judgment as a call for the party to begin again.

He said the faction would fight on until victory is achieved.

Wabara, who spoke at the faction’s emergency BoT meeting, said: “When Eyom Josephine Anenih prayed for us, she said we should just forget about our personal interests and think about the party.

“Before I came in here this afternoon, I, as an Igbo man, made contact with the father of this party, the late Alex Ekwueme, and he said he is very proud of what we are doing and that we should continue to fight.”

He added: “The whole idea is to edge us out, but we will find our way if we have an open mind.

“We should, in these meetings, keep an open mind and see how we can get ourselves back on track.”

Makinde, who spoke on behalf of the PDP governors, now reduced to only two by defections, acknowledged the current challenges, adding that “this too shall pass”.

He added: “Whatever role we want to play as individuals and collectively as a party, we must be conscious of what history is going to record against or for us for this period. And I’ll leave you with a short remark. I’m sure it’s from the Holy Book.

“I don’t know where it is in the Quran, but in the Bible, I know where it is. And what I want to say is that weeping may endure for the night, but in the morning, joy cometh.”

How to end conflict, by Saraki

Saraki urged the warring leaders to set aside ego, put the past behind them and work for unity ahead of next year’s polls.

The former Senate President, who had consistently called for the closing of ranks among feuding stalwarts, said in a statement that the Appeal Court judgment had created an opportunity for the two camps to resolve their differences, given the numerous party members with ambitions for elective positions.

He said: “I know that at this stage, egos have been bruised. However, the difference between an ordinary man and a statesman, 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.”

In a statement by his media aide, Yusuf Olaniyonu, titled: ‘Appeal Court Judgement: Let’s Bury the Hatchet, Stop Litigations to Enable Party Field Candidates for 2027 Polls,’ Saraki urged party leaders to accept the court verdict and plan for a fresh national convention that will comply with all INEC guidelines.

He said it is time for introspection, adding that they should see the Appeal Court decision as an end to all litigation.

The statement reads: “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.

“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.

“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.

“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 warned about the dangers of travelling this route. We knew it would 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.”

Natasha seeks unity, reconciliation

Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central) urged PDP leaders to embrace reconciliation and move beyond lingering litigations.

She said in a statement that party leaders should see the judgment as an opportunity to restore unity, strengthen internal democracy, and reposition the PDP ahead of the general election.

She said: “The Court of Appeal has spoken, and as a democratic party that believes in the rule of law, we must now shift our focus from litigation to reconciliation and rebuilding.

“The strength of our party lies in unity, collective purpose, and our shared commitment to providing Nigerians with credible leadership.”

She added: “Our members across the grassroots - those aspiring to serve in State Houses of Assembly, the House of Representatives, Senate, governorship positions, and even the presidency - must not become casualties of prolonged disagreements among leaders.

“Their aspirations and the future of our party must remain paramount.

“At moments like this, leadership demands that we rise above personal interests and focus on the greater good of our party and our nation.

“The PDP has a long and proud history in Nigeria’s democratic journey, and it is our responsibility to preserve and strengthen it for the generations ahead.

“This is the time to come together, engage constructively, and organise a national convention that reflects the unity, inclusiveness, and democratic values of our party.

“Nigerians are watching, and we must show that the PDP remains ready and capable of leading the nation forward.”