PDP Crisis: Appeal Court Grants Parties Leave For Settlement

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan, has granted all parties involved in the elective convention case of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leave to explore settlement.

Also, the matter has been adjourned sine die following the resolve of counsel to the parties to proceed with the settlement process.

Justice Biobele Georgewill, who led a three-man panel of at Wednesday’s sitting, urged the parties, represented by their various counsel, to be mindful of the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.

He advised counsel to all the parties in the suit before the appellate court to pursue a peaceful resolution of the case in the interest of the party.

According to him, the court has granted leave for settlement in the matter.

“Also, the case has been adjourned sine die to allow all the parties to meet either individually or collectively 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 to the various parties represented here are in the best position to advise the parties they represent.

“The court should be duly informed in writing of the decision reached, whether they agree or disagree on the terms of settlement.

“To this end, all the pending Motions on Notice in this case have been adjourned sine die.”

Meanwhile, all the counsel, in their various submissions, aligned with the position of the court on the matter.

Speaking on behalf of other counsel in a sideline interview, Sunday Ibrahim, SAN, said the parties had shown their willingness to settle and that the court had adjourned the matter sine die for them to attempt settlement and report back if they reached an agreement.

“On that note, we make no further comment because the same may prejudice the envisioned settlement.

“The parties involved, during their meetings on settlement, may also discuss the INEC timetable and other related issues.”

On the various Motions on Notice before the appellate court, Musibau Adetunmbi, SAN, told reporters that the court had adjourned all the cases relating to the PDP elective convention sine die.