Ibadan, March 11, 2026 – SUNTV Global
The Court of Appeal in Ibadan has urged the warring factions of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to seek an out-of-court settlement over disputes stemming from the party’s Ibadan elective convention, raising hopes for a negotiated resolution to the ongoing crisis.
During Wednesday’s sitting, the appellate court adjourned the case indefinitely, granting both sides the opportunity to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than prolonged litigation.
“The court also granted the parties leave to resolve the dispute amicably outside the courtroom,” the panel stated, adding that judicial intervention remains available if negotiations fail.
The dispute follows disagreements over the PDP’s November 2025 national convention in Ibadan, which has resulted in a series of legal battles between rival factions. Observers say the court’s approach reflects a growing preference for internal dispute resolution to protect party unity ahead of elections.
The justices advised legal representatives to guide their clients constructively toward a peaceful settlement, emphasizing that delays could disrupt preparations under the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) recently released electoral timetable.
Meanwhile, the camp aligned with Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has confirmed plans to hold a new national convention on March 29, following a court ruling that invalidated the previous convention and barred recognition of Taminu Turaki’s leadership.
Speaking on Channels TV, Abdulrahman Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the Wike-led faction, said, “In compliance with the court judgment, we have conducted our ward and local government congresses. Our state congresses will hold on Saturday, with the national convention scheduled for March 29–30.”
The Turaki faction, however, maintains its intention to challenge the ruling at the Supreme Court, signaling that the PDP leadership battle is far from over.
INEC’s electoral calendar, released on February 26, 2026, mandates that political parties complete primaries and resolve internal disputes between April 23 and May 30, putting pressure on all factions to resolve differences swiftly.
For SUNTV Global, this is a developing story as Nigeria’s leading opposition party navigates its leadership crisis ahead of a critical electoral season.
