Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in PDP, ADC Leadership Tussles

The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the high-stakes appeals and cross-appeals stemming from the leadership crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Following a hearing of all parties on Wednesday, a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba announced that a date for the rulings would be communicated to the respective legal teams. The court’s decision to reserve judgment introduces a period of strategic uncertainty for the feuding factions, particularly with the May 10 deadline for the submission of membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) looming.

The PDP Deadlock: Status Quo Favours Wike Backed Faction  

The apex court’s decision leaves the PDP in a state of bifurcated leadership. For the time being, the national executive backed by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike remains the body recognized by INEC.

This follows earlier rulings by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal which:

• Nullified the party’s Ibadan convention that produced Kabiru Turaki as National Chairman. 

• Upheld the suspension of several high-ranking officials, including Samuel Anyanwu and A.K. Ajibade, SAN.

The Wike-backed faction is currently urging the Supreme Court to vacate these lower court rulings, arguing that the judiciary lacks the jurisdiction to intervene in what they describe as the "internal affairs" of a political party. Conversely, the Turaki-led group expressed hope that the final verdict would protect multi-party democracy.

"We charge all true and uncompromised PDP members to keep their faith alive," said Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the Turaki faction. "We remain hopeful that the apex court will deliver judgments that halt the emergence of a one-party state."

ADC Face Race Against Time

The situation is significantly more precarious for the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Currently, INEC does not recognize any of the three contending factions led by Senator David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and Ogga Temitope, respectively.

On April 1, INEC removed Senator Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as National Chairman and Secretary, citing a Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo ante bellum.

The May 10 Deadline: Under current electoral guidelines, all political parties must submit their membership registers to INEC by May 10 to remain eligible to sponsor candidates for the 2027 general elections. If the Supreme Court does not deliver a verdict within the next 18 days, the ADC faces the very real prospect of being excluded from the ballot.

Despite the pressure, the Mark-led faction remains confident. Speaking to newsmen, the faction's spokesperson, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, noted:

• The Supreme Court is aware of the "exigency of the moment."

• The faction is seeking an order to restrain INEC from recognizing any leadership structure other than theirs.

• The group intends to proceed with its scheduled national convention regardless of the current administrative freeze.

Judicial "Rascality" and Pending Suits

The legal battle has effectively frozen lower court proceedings. Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, recently adjourned a substantive suit filed by the Gombe faction sine die (indefinitely).

Justice Nwite remarked that continuing the trial while the matter is pending before the Supreme Court would amount to "judicial rascality," emphasizing the need for the apex court to provide finality on the jurisdictional questions raised by the parties.

As it stands, the political future of both the PDP and the ADC now rests entirely in the hands of the Supreme Court justices, with the clock ticking toward a critical electoral deadline.