The Supreme Court of Nigeria is scheduled to deliver final judgments today in two high-profile legal battles concerning the leadership hierarchies of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The apex court had previously reserved judgment on April 22, 2026, following the adoption of final briefs from all parties involved.
The PDP Crisis: Turaki vs. The "Wike-Backed" Faction
The first appeal, marked SC/CV/164/2026, was filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP. Turaki is seeking to overturn concurrent judgments from the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal, both of which nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.
Key Arguments in the PDP Case:
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The Appellants: Led by Paul Erokoro, SAN, the Turaki group argues that the lower courts erred in interfering with the internal affairs of the political party. They are also seeking the dismissal of a cross-appeal filed by a rival faction aligned with the FCT Minister.
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The Respondents: Represented by J.C. Njikonye, SAN (for former Governor Sule Lamido) and Joseph Daudu, SAN (for the Wike-backed faction), the respondents argue that the court holds jurisdiction because the party willfully defied judicial orders.
Background of the Conflict: The legal turmoil stems from a November 14, 2025, ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, which halted the Ibadan convention. The court found that the PDP had unjustly denied founding member and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, the opportunity to contest for the National Chairmanship.
Furthermore, Justice James Omotosho had issued a separate judgment on October 31, 2025, stopping the convention on the grounds that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by the 1999 Constitution and INEC guidelines. The Court of Appeal subsequently slammed the Turaki-led group for "self-help" and "contemptuous conduct" by proceeding with the convention despite these subsisting orders.
The ADC Dispute: Senator David Mark’s Final Stand
The Supreme Court will also rule on appeal SC/CV/180/2026, filed by the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark. The former Senate President is challenging a Court of Appeal decision that dismissed his objection to a lower court's jurisdiction over the party's internal leadership disputes.
The Prayer Before the Court: Senator Mark, through his counsel Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, is requesting:
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A stay of execution on the appellate court’s March 12 judgment.
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An order restraining INEC from recognizing any other leadership structure within the ADC.
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A stay of proceedings in the substantive suit currently before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court.
The Legal Conflict: The dispute pits Senator Mark against Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman. While Mark’s legal team argues that precedent established in March 2025 bars courts from entertaining matters of internal party affairs, the respondents, represented by Robert Emukpero, SAN, maintain the appeal is premature.
Following an appellate court order to maintain the status quo ante bellum, INEC had previously de-recognized the Mark-led executive, leaving the party’s leadership in a state of flux pending today’s resolution.
Why Today’s Rulings Matter
The decisions reached by the Supreme Court today will serve as a definitive precedent regarding the extent to which the judiciary can intervene in political party administration, particularly when fundamental rights of members to contest elections are allegedly suppressed.
Parties, legal observers, and INEC officials are currently gathered at the apex court awaiting the arrival of the justices.