The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan on Wednesday granted parties involved in the disputed elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party leave to pursue an out-of-court settlement.
Justice Biobele Georgewill, who led a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, adjourned the case indefinitely after lawyers representing the parties indicated their willingness to explore a peaceful resolution.
Georgewill urged the counsels to work toward settling the dispute in the interest of the party and to take into account the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 general elections.
“The court has granted leave for settlement in this matter,” Georgewill said. “All the parties involved should be mindful of the election timetable as released by INEC. The counsel of the various parties are in the best position to advise those they represent.”
He said the court should be informed in writing of the outcome of the settlement talks, whether the parties reach an agreement or not. All pending motions in the case were also adjourned indefinitely.
The ruling follows recent conflicting court decisions over the party’s convention held in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.
On Monday, the Court of Appeal in Abuja invalidated the convention. Earlier, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court had ruled in favor of the convention.
The case was filed by Folahan Adelabi through Senior Advocate of Nigeria Musibau Adetunmbi.
Speaking to journalists after Wednesday’s proceedings, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Sunday Ibrahim said the parties had agreed to attempt a settlement and would report back to the court afterward.
“The parties have shown their willingness to settle, and the court has adjourned the matter sine die for the parties to attempt settlement,” Ibrahim said, adding that further comments could prejudice the ongoing talks.
Adetunmbi also confirmed that all motions relating to the disputed convention had been adjourned indefinitely while settlement discussions continue.
