By Adeola Badru
The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has granted all parties involved in the dispute over the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) elective convention leave to pursue an out-of-court settlement, adjourning the case indefinitely while urging stakeholders to resolve the crisis peacefully in view of the timetable for the 2027 general elections released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A three-member panel of the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill, on Wednesday granted all parties involved in the dispute over the elective convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leave to explore a settlement.
The appellate court also adjourned the matter sine die following the decision of counsel representing the parties to commence discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.
Justice Georgewill, during the sitting, urged the parties, through their respective counsels, to be mindful of the timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
He advised the lawyers representing the parties in the suit before the appellate court to work towards a peaceful resolution of the matter in the interest of the party.
According to him, the court had granted leave for settlement in the case.
“Also, the case has been adjourned sine die in order to give all the parties the opportunity to meet either individually or collectively on how to resolve the case pending before the appellate court peacefully.“
“All the parties involved should be mindful of the election timetable as released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).“
“The counsel of the various parties being represented here are in the best position to advise the parties that they are representing.“
“The court should be duly informed in writing of the decision reached, whether they agreed or disagreed on the term of settlement.“
“To this end, all the pending motions on notice on this case have been adjourned sine die.”
Meanwhile, counsel representing the various parties aligned with the position of the court on the matter in their submissions.
Speaking on behalf of other counsel in a sideline interview, Sunday Ibrahim, SAN, said the parties had expressed willingness to pursue a settlement, following which the court adjourned the case sine die to allow them to attempt reconciliation.
“On that note, we make no further comment because it may prejudice the envisioned settlement. The parties involved during its meetings on settlement may discuss the INEC timetable and the rest,” he said.
Also speaking on the various motions pending before the appellate court, Musibau Adetunmbi stated that the court had adjourned all cases relating to the PDP elective convention sine die.
It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja had earlier invalidated the party’s elective convention held in Ibadan.
The court, in its ruling, also upheld the decision of the party’s disciplinary committee against some of its members.
However, in a separate development, Justice Ladiran Akintola of the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan had earlier ruled in favour of the party’s convention held in Ibadan, declaring it valid.
The case was instituted by Folahan Malomo Adelabi through his counsel, Musibau Adetunmbi, SAN.
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