A Federal Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, asked the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve their differences amicably in the interest of the party.
Justice Biobele Georgewill-led appellate court gave the advice at the hearing of appeals filed before it by the two factions.
The court also adjourned till March 11 the two appeals filed to set aside the conflicting decisions of the Federal High Court, Ibadan and the Oyo State High Court on the party’s national convention held in Ibadan.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed faction, led by the Chairman of the Caretaker Committee, Abdulrahman Mohammed, had on November 25, 2025, secured a judgment from the Federal High Court, Ibadan, invalidating the outcome of the party’s convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.
However, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court, in a judgment delivered on February 25, in another suit filed by the Taminu Turaki-led faction, held that the Ibadan convention fulfilled the requirements of the PDP’s Constitution and the Electoral Act and was, therefore, validly held.
Akintola also held that Turaki was lawfully elected as the National Chairman of the party.
Subsequently, the two factions of the party filed different appeals at the Appellate Court in Abuja and Ibadan.
At the hearing of the appeal in Ibadan on Friday, counsel to the appellant, Fredrick Ladapo, informed the court of a Notice of Withdrawal of Appeal filed on March 4.
Justice Georgewill inquired to know what applications and processes had been filed in court by the counsel representing parties in the appeal.
The judge described the dispute in the PDP as a family affair gone sour, adding that with the notice of withdrawal of the appeal, it could be settled.
In view of the latest development, the court directed the two factions in the party to meet with their lawyers and agree on the terms of settlement.
He said that the terms of settlement, when presented to the court, would be adopted as its judgment.
The court therefore adjourned till March 11 for the two appeals filed to set aside the conflicting decisions of the Federal High Court, Ibadan and the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on the party’s convention.
Georgewill directed the counsel to both parties to return on the adjourned date to inform the court on whether or not their clients are amenable to settlement.
The court said if the parties were not inclined to settle the matter amicably, it would proceed with the appeal or transfer the case to Abuja for consolidation of all the appeals in respect of the dispute.
PDP hails court ruling recognising Ekiti gov candidate
Meanwhile, the PDP has lauded an Abuja Federal High Court ruling that directed the Independent National Electoral Commission to recognise Dr Oluwole Oluyede as its governorship candidate in Ekiti State.
The factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ini Ememobong, said in a statement on Friday that the court’s ruling cleared the way for the party’s victory in the Ekiti governorship election.
Despite INEC’s announcement of July 20 as the election date, the PDP had been mired in internal crisis.
INEC had previously rejected the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP governorship candidate, Oluyede, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act.
Oluyede and the PDP challenged the decision in court, and on Friday, the court ordered INEC to include his name and the party’s logo on the ballot.
The court also barred the commission from excluding him from any election-related activities.
Reacting to the judgement, PDP stated, “The judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Honourable Justice Umar, has granted all the reliefs sought by Dr. Oluwole Oluyede and the Peoples Democratic Party in the suit FHC/ABJ/CS/40/2026 against the Independent National Electoral Commission.
“Oluyede was presented with a certificate of return by the National Chairman of the Party, Kabiru Turaki, SAN, as the candidate of the PDP for the 2026 Governorship elections in Ekiti. However, INEC, under the leadership of Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, flagrantly and unlawfully refused to include his name on the list of candidates.
“We welcome this judgment as a confirmation of the reality in Ekiti and acknowledge that indeed justice has been served.
“Furthermore, we admonish INEC to act within the confines of the law and refrain from unbridled partisanship. The Commission is aware of several judgments to the effect that it cannot exclude lawfully nominated candidates, as in the instant case. They should remember the historic negative roles which past electoral commissions played in the collapse of democracy in previous republics and consciously act in favour of protecting multi-party democracy, and not otherwise.”
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