Nigeria’s Supreme Court is set to deliver landmark judgments in a series of appeals arising from internal disputes rocking two major opposition parties — the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The apex court confirmed on Wednesday that it will hand down rulings in four separate appeals tied to factional crises within both parties, with verdicts expected on Thursday.
The decisions are widely anticipated to have far-reaching implications for party leadership structures and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.
At the heart of the PDP’s legal battle is the legitimacy of the party’s November 2025 national convention held in Ibadan. A faction led by Tanimu Turaki is urging the Supreme Court to overturn earlier judgments that invalidated the convention.
The controversy began when former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido challenged his exclusion from contesting the position of national chairman. A lower court subsequently ordered the suspension of the convention.
Despite the subsisting court order, the PDP proceeded with the convention — a move that drew sharp rebuke from the Court of Appeal, which described the action as a disregard for judicial authority.
The appellate court upheld the nullification of the convention, citing procedural lapses, including the failure to conduct valid state congresses and the improper issuance of statutory notices.
The Supreme Court is also reviewing a related appeal seeking to lift restrictions placed on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the outcome of the disputed convention. The electoral body had been barred from acknowledging the convention’s resolutions pending the resolution of the legal challenge.
In the ADC, the leadership crisis has taken a more complex turn, with multiple factions laying claim to control of the party’s national structure.
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A suit filed by former Senate President David Mark challenges a Court of Appeal ruling that restored a previous leadership arrangement pending the final resolution of the dispute. Mark has argued that the matter is an internal party affair and therefore beyond judicial intervention.
However, a fresh ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja has further complicated matters. The court barred INEC from recognising any congresses conducted by committees established by the Mark-led caretaker leadership. It held that only duly elected state executives possess the authority to organise congresses.
The judgment effectively nullified moves by the caretaker committee to oversee state congresses and affirmed that the tenure of existing state executives remains valid.
Reactions to the Federal High Court decision have been mixed. Dumebi Kachikwu, a former presidential candidate aligned with one faction of the ADC, welcomed the ruling, describing it as a reaffirmation of internal democracy. Meanwhile, allies of the Mark-led group indicated they are reviewing the judgment and considering their next steps.
A policy advocacy organisation, Heritage Centre, also weighed in, warning that prolonged factional disputes and conflicting court rulings could have broader political consequences as parties reposition for 2027.
With divergent judgments from lower courts and intensifying internal rivalries, attention now turns to the Supreme Court.
Its forthcoming decisions are expected to clarify the legal standing of the disputed conventions and leadership structures, and potentially redefine the trajectory of both opposition parties ahead of the next electoral cycle.