He said the December party elections must comply with current rules, including the stipulation that those wanting to contest the president's post need a minimum of 30 per cent of nominations from the divisions first.
The New Straits Times yesterday reported Datuk Seri Najib as saying that unless an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) was called to do away with the quotas, the election rules stay.
And the party rules state that only the Umno Supreme Council, led by Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi, can call for an EGM.
Critics of Datuk Seri Abdullah, including former premier Mahathir Mohamad and former finance minister Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, have been pushing for the 30-nomination quota to be removed.
Tengku Razaleigh has offered to stand against Datuk Seri Abdullah, but under the ruling, he would need the backing of 30 per cent of the 191 Umno divisions - or at least 58 of them.
Datuk Seri Najib reminded Umno members that while they had the right to contest the party polls, it was also their duty to restore public confidence in the party.
'The elections must be conducted in a respectful and orderly manner,' he said.