Supreme Court to deliver verdict on PDP, ADC leadership crises Thursday

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed Thursday to deliver judgments in a series of appeals that could significantly determine the future of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In notices issued on Wednesday, the apex court confirmed it would rule on four separate appeals arising from protracted leadership disputes within both opposition parties.

The PDP appeals centre on the legality of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025. The exercise, which produced a factional leadership led by Tanimu Turaki, has been the subject of multiple legal challenges.

The appellants are seeking to overturn judgments of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal Nigeria, which invalidated the convention for violating existing court orders.

The lower courts had faulted the PDP for proceeding with the convention despite a restraining order issued by the Federal High Court, which barred the exercise pending the inclusion of former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, as a contestant for the position of National Chairman.

Justice Peter Lifu of the high court had ruled that Lamido was unjustly denied nomination forms, thereby breaching the party’s constitution and guidelines. The court consequently halted the convention to allow for a fair contest.

However, the Turaki-led faction went ahead with the exercise, a move later described by the appellate court as a “gross abuse of court process” and an affront to judicial authority.

Another appeal filed by the same faction seeks to void the order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from monitoring the disputed convention.

The appellate court had upheld earlier judgments which held that the PDP failed to meet statutory conditions, including conducting valid state congresses in at least 14 states prior to the convention. It also ruled that notices for the convention were improperly issued, rendering the process invalid.

Meanwhile, in the ADC case, the Supreme Court is set to rule on an appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, who is challenging a Court of Appeal decision that ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the party’s leadership crisis.

Mark is contesting the involvement of the courts in what he describes as the internal affairs of a political party, arguing that such matters are non-justiciable.

The dispute involves a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, alongside other key figures including Rauf Aregbesola and former party chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Among other reliefs, Mark is asking the court to restrain INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction and to halt proceedings in a related suit pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

INEC had earlier removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official records, citing compliance with the Court of Appeal’s directive to maintain the status quo.

The electoral body stated it would not recognise any faction until the dispute is conclusively resolved by the courts.

Despite the uncertainty, the ADC has indicated plans to proceed with its scheduled national convention.

At the Federal High Court, Justice Emeka Nwite had adjourned proceedings in a related suit indefinitely, citing the pending appeal before the Supreme Court. He warned that continuing with the case could amount to “judicial rascality.”

The Supreme Court’s decisions are expected to have far-reaching implications for internal party democracy, legal precedent, and the participation of both parties in the 2027 general elections.