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By Victor Osula, Abuja
Nigeria’s Supreme Court has set 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 an expedited hearing in both matters due to their political urgency and electoral implications.
The twin appeals, which border on the legitimacy of the party’s leadership structures and the validity of contested internal conventions and processes, are expected to test the extent of judicial intervention in the party’s internal governance ahead of key election deadlines.
In the ADC matter, the appeal was brought by the party’s national chairman, David Mark, who challenges previous lower court decisions that have intensified competing claims to the party’s leadership and deepened internal divisions.
A five-member bench of the supreme court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, set the date after granting an expedited hearing in the appeal SC/CV/180/2026.
The case stems from the 12 March 2026 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Mark’s appeal against a 4 September 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court, 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 chief, Nafiu Bala Gombe, a decision that later became central to the wider leadership contest within the party.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the Supreme Court set strict timelines for filing trials, ordering Mark’s lawyer, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve the appellant’s brief within an abbreviated period consistent with the expedited hearing order.
The court also directed the respondents to file their briefs within three days of service, granting the petitioner one day to file the reply, if necessary.
The ADC leadership dispute has generated numerous lawsuits in various courts, with rival factions claiming the position of national chairman and control of the party’s national structure. The Supreme Court’s intervention is widely seen as a decisive step towards clarity and stability in the party’s internal governance.
In a related development, the Supreme Court has also set April 22 for an expedited hearing of an appeal arising out of the leadership crisis in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), further intensifying judicial scrutiny of intra-party disputes ahead of the next election cycle.
The appeal, SC/CV/166/2026, was made by the Taminu Turaki-led leadership emerging from the disputed national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
A five-member bench of the court, led by Justice Mohammed Lawal, granted a reduction in terms, citing the urgency of resolving the dispute in light of the upcoming election deadlines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The appellants’ lawyer, Chris Uche, SAN, urged the court to expedite the matter, noting that INEC had fixed April 23 for the commencement of submission of candidates by political parties, making timely resolution of the dispute crucial to the party’s election preparations.
He supported the request with a 23-paragraph affidavit of extreme urgency, underlining the potential consequences of the delay on the PDP’s participation in the next elections.
While the request was not opposed by the faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, their lawyer, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, asked for 15 days to respond, while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other respondents asked for 10 days to submit their cases.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court ordered all defendants to file their briefs within five days and ordered that all trials be completed and exchanged by April 21, ahead of scheduled hearings.
The dispute arose 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.
Nigeria’s Court of Appeal had earlier upheld a Federal High Court ruling by Justice James Omotosho, quashing the convention for procedural irregularities, including alleged breaches of court orders, erroneous notices and failure to comply with legal requirements.
Despite the appeal ruling, the PDP remains divided into rival factions, each claiming legitimacy over the party’s national structure.
With both matters now on an expedited path to the Supreme Court, the findings are expected to have far-reaching implications for the party’s internal governance, political stability and preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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