The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State has adjourned indefinitely the legal battle over the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) controversial national convention held in November 2025, while urging the party’s rival factions to settle their differences out of court.
Gatekeepers News reports that at Wednesday’s session, a three‑member panel led by Justice Biobele Georgewill granted both sides leave to pursue an amicable resolution and said the matter would remain on hold as talks continue. Lawyers representing the factions were encouraged to properly guide their clients toward a peaceful settlement to prevent further escalation.
The court also reminded counsel that if talks fail and no agreement is reached, the parties remain free to return to the appeal court for further proceedings. Judges stressed the importance of internal conflict resolution, especially with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) having released an electoral timetable for the 2027 general elections.
The long‑running dispute traces back to PDP’s Ibadan national convention, which produced Kabiru Turaki (SAN) as national chairman but was later thrown into legal uncertainty. Rival factions led by different party leaders have been challenging the outcome in various courts, generating conflicting judgments and deepening the party’s leadership crisis.
The appellate court’s move to pause the case and promote out‑of‑court talks signals a judicial preference for negotiation over prolonged litigation in politically sensitive disputes.
