The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared its readiness to pursue reconciliation among aggrieved stakeholders following the legal dispute surrounding the party’s last national convention.
The position was contained in a communiqué issued on Wednesday by the BoT chairman, Adolphus Wabara, at the end of an expanded emergency meeting of the board held on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The development comes as the Court of Appeal of Nigeria sitting in Ibadan granted all parties involved in the dispute over the PDP elective convention leave to explore an out-of-court settlement.
The three-member appellate panel led by Justice Biobele Georgewill also adjourned proceedings indefinitely to allow the parties pursue reconciliation efforts.
Justice Georgewill urged the litigants and their legal representatives to consider the broader political implications of the dispute, particularly the timetable already released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
According to the judge, the court expects the parties to either individually or collectively work towards resolving the dispute amicably and inform the court in writing of any agreement reached.
“All the parties involved should be mindful of the election timetable released by INEC.
“The counsel representing the parties are in the best position to advise them appropriately,” the judge said while adjourning all pending motions in the case indefinitely.
Counsel to the parties however, welcomed the court’s position.
Speaking on behalf of other lawyers after the sitting, Sunday Ibrahim, SAN, said the litigants had expressed willingness to pursue settlement.
“The parties have shown readiness to settle and the court has adjourned the matter sine die to allow them attempt settlement and report back to the court,” he said, declining further comments so as not to prejudice the process.
Another counsel in the matter, Musibau Adetunmbi, also confirmed that all motions relating to the PDP elective convention had been adjourned indefinitely.
The legal dispute stems from the controversy over the party’s November 15–16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan which produced the National Working Committee led by Kabiru Tanimu Turaki.
Earlier, the appellate court had invalidated the convention, a decision that triggered fresh tensions within the party’s leadership structure.
However, in its communiqué, the PDP BoT said it disagreed with the judgment and would await legal advice on the next line of action.
“The BoT disagrees with the judgment of the Court of Appeal which pronounced an invalidation of the November 15th to 16th 2025 National Convention that produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee of our Party. The BoT is awaiting the advice of our lawyers on the way forward,” the communiqué stated.
Despite its reservations, the board acknowledged the reconciliation window created by the appellate court and resolved to explore it in order to restore unity within the party.
The trustees expressed concern over what they described as avoidable leadership disputes and litigations that have negatively affected the cohesion and smooth functioning of the PDP as the country’s major opposition party.
Consequently, the BoT resolved to immediately initiate reconciliation efforts among stakeholders to enable the party reposition itself ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“The Board is resolved to take immediate steps to reconcile all stakeholders, put an end to all disputes and restore the party to good political health, particularly to enable the PDP field candidates in the 2027 general elections,” it added.
To facilitate the process, the BoT announced the constitution of a special committee to interface with legal teams and other stakeholders with a view to fostering reconciliation within the party.
The board also acknowledged what it described as growing support from Nigerians, citing reports of increasing participation in the ongoing nationwide electronic membership registration exercise.
According to the BoT, the surge in membership registrations demonstrates that the PDP remains a preferred political platform for many Nigerians ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The trustees therefore called on party leaders and members to put aside personal and group interests in the overall interest of the party and the country.
The BoT also commended the efforts of Bala Mohammed, governor of Bauchi State, and Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo State, for what it described as their steadfast commitment to the unity and progress of the party.
In another resolution, the board approved the appointment of Babangida Aliyu as secretary of the BoT pursuant to Section 32 of the PDP Constitution (as amended in 2017).
The trustees urged Nigerians not to lose hope, assuring that the PDP was working to reposition itself to rescue the nation from the grip of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).