PDP crisis is family affair – Appeal Court’s Justice Georgewill

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By Adeola Badru

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The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has urged the warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to resolve their differences amicably, describing the crisis as a family dispute that had “gone sour”.

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The appellate court, presided over by Justice Biobele Georgewill, gave the advice while hearing appeals arising from conflicting judgments delivered by the Federal High Court and the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over the party’s Ibadan convention.

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The development came after counsel to the appellant, Mr Fredrick Ladapo, filed a Motion on Notice on March 4, 2026 seeking the withdrawal of the appeal.

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During the proceedings, Justice Georgewill asked counsel on both sides to clarify the applications and processes pending before the appellate court for determination.

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Commenting on the dispute, the judge said the internal crisis within the PDP was essentially a family matter that had escalated unnecessarily.

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He noted that with the filing of the notice to withdraw the appeal, there was now an opportunity for the parties to resolve the issue out of court.

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“The dispute in the PDP as a family affair has gone sour,” Justice Georgewill said, adding that with the notice of withdrawal of the appeal, the matter “could be settled.”

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Following the latest development, the court directed the two factions in the party to meet with their lawyers to negotiate and agree on terms of settlement.

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Justice Georgewill explained that once the parties present the agreed terms before the court, they would be adopted as the court’s judgment.

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The court subsequently adjourned the matter until March 11 to allow the parties to report back on the outcome of their discussions.

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The adjournment also covers the two appeals seeking to set aside the conflicting decisions of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, and the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan, on the PDP’s Ibadan convention.

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Justice Georgewill further directed counsel representing both sides to return to court on the adjourned date to indicate whether their clients were willing to embrace settlement.

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He added that if the parties fail to resolve the dispute amicably, the court would either proceed with hearing the appeal or transfer the case to Abuja for consolidation with other appeals relating to the dispute.

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