A Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has urged the two rival factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to resolve their leadership dispute amicably, describing the crisis as an internal family matter that should not be prolonged in court.
The appellate court, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, made the recommendation during the hearing of appeals filed by the opposing factions challenging conflicting judgments on the party’s national convention held in Ibadan.
The court subsequently adjourned the case until March 11 to allow both sides to explore possible settlement options.
The dispute began after the faction backed by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, and led by caretaker committee chairman Abdulrahman Mohammed secured a ruling from the Federal High Court in Ibadan on November 25, 2025.
The judgment invalidated the outcome of the PDP national convention held between November 15 and 16, 2025.
However, the crisis deepened when the Oyo State High Court delivered a conflicting judgment on February 25.
In that ruling, Justice Ladiran Akintola held that the convention complied with the PDP constitution and the Electoral Act, declaring that Taminu Turaki was duly elected as the party’s National Chairman.
Following the contradictory judgments, both factions filed appeals before the appellate court in Ibadan and Abuja.
During Friday’s proceedings, counsel for one of the parties, Fredrick Ladapo, informed the court that a notice of withdrawal of appeal had been filed on March 4.
Justice Georgewill noted that the internal dispute appeared to be a “family affair gone sour,” adding that the withdrawal of the appeal provided an opportunity for reconciliation.
He directed the legal representatives of both factions to meet with their clients and agree on terms of settlement, stating that once presented, the court could adopt the agreement as its judgment.
Meanwhile, the PDP has welcomed a separate Federal High Court ruling in Abuja directing the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Dr. Oluwole Oluyede as the party’s governorship candidate for the upcoming Ekiti State election.
In a statement issued by the factional National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, the party said the ruling had cleared the path for its participation and possible victory in the Ekiti governorship poll scheduled for July 20.
The court also ordered INEC to include Oluyede’s name and the PDP logo on the ballot and barred the electoral body from excluding him from any election-related activities.
