Judiciary urges PDP to settle internal disputes, upholds Ekiti nominee's legitimacy

A Federal Court of Appeal in Ibadan, Oyo State, urged the two factions of the Peoples Democratic Party to resolve their differences amicably on Friday, in the best interest of the party, as the court heard appeals filed by the factions.

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The Justice Biobele Georgewill-led appellate court provided this advice and also adjourned the hearing of the two appeals until March 11, which were filed to overturn the conflicting decisions of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, and the Oyo State High Court regarding the party's national convention held in Ibadan.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike-backed faction, led by Abdulrahman Mohammed, had secured a judgment from the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on November 25, 2025, invalidating the outcome of the party's convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.

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However, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court delivered a judgment on February 25, in a suit filed by the Taminu Turaki-led faction, stating that the Ibadan convention fulfilled the requirements of the PDP's Constitution and the Electoral Act and was therefore validly held, and also held that Turaki was lawfully elected as the National Chairman of the party.

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The two factions of the party subsequently filed different appeals at the Appellate Court in Abuja and Ibadan, and 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.

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Justice Georgewill inquired about the applications and processes filed in court by the counsel representing parties in the appeal, describing the dispute in the PDP as a family affair gone sour, and noting that with the notice of withdrawal of the appeal, it could be settled.

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The court directed the two factions in the party to meet with their lawyers and agree on the terms of settlement, which would be adopted as its judgment when presented to the court.

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The court adjourned until 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.

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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, and stated that 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.

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The PDP has welcomed 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.

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The factional National Publicity Secretary of the party, Ini Ememobong, stated in a statement on Friday that the court's ruling cleared the way for the party's victory in the Ekiti governorship election, despite the party being mired in internal crisis and INEC's announcement of July 20 as the election date.

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INEC had previously rejected the Tanimu Turaki-led PDP governorship candidate, Oluyede, citing non-compliance with the Electoral Act, but the court ordered INEC to include his name and the party's logo on the ballot and barred the commission from excluding him from any election-related activities.

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The PDP stated that the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Honourable Justice Umar, 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.

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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, but INEC, under the leadership of Prof Joash Amupitan, SAN, refused to include his name on the list of candidates.

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The PDP welcomed the judgment as a confirmation of the reality in Ekiti and acknowledged that indeed justice has been served, and also admonished INEC to act within the confines of the law and refrain from unbridled partisanship.