SUPREME COURT RESERVES JUDGMENT IN PDP, ADC LEADERSHIP CRISES AHEAD OF 2027 POLLS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in the leadership disputes rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), deepening uncertainty within both opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba fixed no date for judgment after hearing arguments in separate appeals challenging lower court rulings on the crises.
The development comes as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets May 10, 2026, as the deadline for submission of party membership registers, with party primaries scheduled between April 23 and May 30, 2026.
INEC has also fixed the Presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly elections are slated for February 6, 2027.
The ongoing litigations have disrupted internal structures in both parties, leaving aspirants uncertain about their political future and complicating preparations for the elections.
In the PDP, the crisis has split the party into factions led by Tanimu Turaki and Abdulrahman Mohammed, with backing from key figures including Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, and FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.
The appeals before the court seek to validate the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, which had been nullified by lower courts over alleged procedural breaches.
One ruling by Justice Peter Lifu restrained the party from conducting the convention, citing the exclusion of Sule Lamido from contesting for national chairman.
Another judgment by Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required.
Counsel to the appellants, Paul Erokoro, urged the apex court to overturn the rulings, while opposing counsel including J.C. Njikonye and Joseph Daudu asked the court to dismiss the appeals.
In a related case, the court also reserved judgment in an appeal by former Senate President David Mark over the leadership crisis in the ADC.
The dispute followed the removal of key ADC officials, including Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, from INEC’s register, in compliance with a court order maintaining the status quo.
The ADC crisis has since splintered the party into factions led by Mark, Nafiu Gombe, and another aligned with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate Dumebi Kachikwu, headed by Kingsley Ogga.
Reacting, PDP factions expressed divergent views, with Turaki’s camp urging faith in the judiciary, while the Wike-backed faction expressed confidence that the Supreme Court would dismiss the appeals in its favour.
Meanwhile, the Wike-aligned PDP faction has unveiled a timetable for its 2027 primaries, including nomination fees pegged at ₦51 million for presidential aspirants and ₦21 million for governorship candidates.
The move has been rejected by the opposing faction, which described it as premature and urged members to disregard the schedule.
With both PDP and ADC entangled in prolonged legal battles, analysts warn that delays in resolving the disputes could significantly impact their readiness and competitiveness in the 2027 elections, leaving the political future of many aspirants hanging on the Supreme Court’s final verdict.
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