From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22, 2026, for the hearing of two high-stakes appeals arising from leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), while also granting accelerated hearing in both matters due to their political urgency and electoral implications.
The twin appeals, which border on the legitimacy of party leadership structures and the validity of disputed conventions and internal processes, are expected to test the extent of judicial intervention in internal party governance ahead of key electoral timelines.
In the ADC matter, the appeal was filed by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, who is challenging earlier decisions of lower courts that have intensified competing claims to the party’s leadership and deepened internal divisions.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date after granting an accelerated hearing in the appeal SC/CV/180/2026.
The case stems from the March 12, 2026, judgement of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Mark’s appeal against a September 4, 2025, ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The Federal High Court, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, had earlier refused to grant injunctive relief sought in an ex parte application filed by ADC chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a decision that later became central to the broader leadership contest within the party.
At Tuesday’s proceedings, the apex court issued strict timelines for the filing of processes, directing Mark’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve the appellant’s brief within a shortened period consistent with the accelerated hearing order.
The court further ordered the respondents to file their briefs within three days of service, while granting the appellant one day to file a reply, if necessary.
The ADC leadership dispute has generated multiple suits across various courts, with rival factions laying claim to the position of National Chairman and control of the party’s national structure. The Supreme Court’s intervention is widely viewed as a decisive step toward bringing clarity and stability to the party’s internal governance.
In a related development, the Supreme Court also fixed April 22 for an accelerated hearing of an appeal arising from the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further intensifying judicial scrutiny of internal party disputes ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The appeal, SC/CV/166/2026, was filed by the Taminu Turaki-led leadership that emerged from the disputed national convention held in Ibadan on November 15–16, 2025.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, granted an abridgement of time, citing the urgency of resolving the dispute in light of upcoming electoral deadlines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Counsel to the appellants, Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to expedite the matter, noting that INEC had fixed April 23 for the commencement of candidate submissions by political parties, making the timely resolution of the dispute critical to the party’s electoral preparedness.
He supported the application with a 23-paragraph affidavit of extreme urgency, stressing the potential consequences of delay on the PDP’s participation in forthcoming elections.
Although the application was not opposed by the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, their counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, requested 15 days to respond, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other respondents sought 10 days to file their processes.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all respondents to file their briefs within five days and directed that all processes be completed and exchanged on or before April 21, ahead of the scheduled hearings.
The dispute stems from the PDP national convention held in Ibadan, which produced a leadership structure led by Taminu Turaki, SAN, but has since remained subject to competing judicial interpretations and factional claims.
The Court of Appeal of Nigeria had earlier upheld a Federal High Court judgement delivered by Justice James Omotosho, which nullified the convention on grounds of procedural irregularities, including alleged breaches of court orders, defective notices, and failure to comply with statutory requirements.
Despite the appellate ruling, the PDP remains divided into rival factions, each asserting legitimacy over the party’s national structure.
With both matters now on an accelerated track before the apex court, the outcomes are expected to have far-reaching implications for internal party governance, political stability, and preparations for the 2027 General elections.
