Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said yesterday that the reservation of judgement on the leadership tussle within the party will not affect its chances to participate in the 2027 elections.

The Kabiru Tanimu Turaki led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) while reacting to the development of the apex court also expressed hope that it will triumph to contest the elections.

The Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgement in an appeal filed by the National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, and a faction of the PDP over the leadership of the party.

There was apprehension in sections of the parties that further delay in ruling on the leadership tussles within the ADC and the PDP may stall their chances of contesting.

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ADC has no less than five prominent leaders like former vice president, Atiku Abubakar; former presidential candidates, Peter Obi; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso; former APC presidential aspirant Rotimi Amaechi and renown economist, Mohammed Hayatudeen indicating interest in the presidential ticket of the party.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has scheduled the conduct of party primaries, including resolution of disputes arising from primaries, to commence from today, the 23rd April 2026 and end on 30th May 2026.

Parties are also supposed to submit their members register to INEC not later than 21 days to the slated day for the commencement of the exercise.

Party stalwarts in both parties have maintained that the delay will not affect their preparations despite not knowing when the apex court would communicate the day of judgement to them.

The decision

A five-member panel of justices presided by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, had on Wednesday, reserved judgement after all parties involved argued their filed processes.

The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by Mark asking the court to grant an order staying the execution of the Court of Appeal’s ruling for status quo delivered on March 12 emanating from in a suit filed by a former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe on the basis of lack of jurisdiction.

The PDP appeal was brought by the Kabiru Turaki-led executive challenging the verdicts of two high courts and the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullifying its national convention in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, in favour of the faction loyal to the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

Arguing the matter, ADC’s counsel Jibrin Okutepa (SAN) reminded the apex court that it had in a March 21, 2025 judgement put an end to the issue before the court, when it held that, “no court has jurisdiction to entertain cases bordering on internal affairs of political parties.”

Okutepa, therefore, urged the apex court to allow the appeal and hold that the trial court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a suit bordering on the ADC’s internal matters.

Counsel to Nafiu Bala Gombe, Robert Emukpero (SAN), asked the panel to reject the appeal and affirm the judgement of the lower court, which held that the case of the appellant was premature and dismissed it.

It would be recalled that the appellate court held that the ADC executives’ appeal was premature and was brought without the leave of court while directing parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.

Arguing the appeal by the Turaki faction of the PDP, Paul Erokoro (SAN) asked the Supreme Court to allow their appeal and dismiss a cross-appeal by the faction of the party loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike.

The lawyers to Sule Lamido and the Wike-backed faction of the party, J. C. Njikonye (SAN) and Joseph Daudu (SAN) filed preliminary objections seeking dismissal of the appeal.

They contended that both the high court and the appellate court rightly exercised jurisdiction over the matter.

It would be recalled that the Federal High Court had, in separate judgments delivered by Justices James Omotosho and Peter Lifu, restrained the conduct of the Ibadan convention, citing non-compliance with constitutional provisions and party guidelines, as well as the exclusion of key stakeholders from the process.

Despite the subsisting orders, the PDP National Working Committee proceeded with the convention, producing Kabiru Turaki as national chairman of a faction of the party with the support of Governors Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed of Oyo and Bauchi states.

In response, the Wike-aligned bloc rejected the outcome and constituted parallel party structures, further deepening the crisis.

On March 9, the Court of Appeal affirmed the decisions of the lower court, dismissing the PDP’s challenge to the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court.

Dissatisfied, the Turaki-led faction filed an appeal at the Supreme Court on five grounds, seeking to overturn the appellate court’s ruling and secure a stay of execution of the judgements.

Armed with a fresh court order granting access to the party’s national secretariat, held a national convention on March 29 and 30.

Supreme Court needs to defuse tension in the country – Kola Ologbondiyan

Also speaking on the development, a chieftain of the party, Kola Ologbondiyan, said the Supreme Court needs to deliver judgment on the leadership crisis to defuse the tension already building up in the country.

Ologbondiyan said “Nigerians already know that the ruling party wants to turn Nigeria into a one-party state”, adding that the apex court needs to salvage the situation.

He said, “What is important now is for the Supreme Court to help defuse the tension that is all over the country. Whether the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) wants it or not, it is clear to Nigerians now that they want to turn the country into a one-party state.

“So, all that is left is for the Supreme Court to do the right thing and salvage the situation. Like the Supreme Court said before, these are issues that are purely within the purview of political parties and are not for the courts.

“As for the party, majority of Nigerians believe that the ADC is the party that can guarantee multi party democracy in the country.”

We are cautiously optimistic – ADC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) said it is cautiously optimistic that the Supreme Court will do the right thing concerning the leadership crisis before it.

National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, told Daily Trust that the apex court is aware of the grave political implications of the case and as such believes the case will be heard as soon as possible.

In a terse message to our correspondent, the party’s spokesman said, “We are cautiously optimistic. But the fact that the matter has come up so quickly at the apex court indicates that the judiciary is aware of the grave political implications of this case.

“So, we are confident that the ruling will be delivered in a matter of days. So, we are not worried now.”

No cause for alarm – Dalung

A chieftain of the ADC and former minister of sports, Solomon Dalung described the outcome of the court hearing yesterday as healthy to the survival of democracy.

He said the body language of the Supreme Court is very clear as the apex court had earlier warned that it was dealing with a matter that is time-bound and cannot give its judgement in vain.

He explained “we should also realise that the Supreme Court is both a court of law and a court of policy. So it can come up even by tomorrow and sit down and give its judgement but can ask lawyers to come back maybe in three months to collect the judgement.

“So, that’s how the Supreme Court operates. It is the only court that has those rules because it makes its rules for itself and makes rules for others to follow,” he said.

He added that the only thing that could have affected the ADC is if the party had failed to conduct its national convention, “then, it would have been out of the game. And that was why when we held a press conference and said we were going ahead with our scheduled congresses, the INEC chairman was so embittered. He went to the television station and he was vituperating and shouting.

“We were well guided, having fulfilled the requirement of law that says give 21 days notice. That’s the only requirement of law that we should give 21 days notice and we gave INEC. We are quite hopeful that the court will save democracy.”

Turaki faction urges members to keep faith alive

The faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) under the leadership of Kabiru Tanimu Turaki asked members to continue to keep faith despite the delay by the Supreme Court in delivering judgement.

Comrade Ini Ememobong, National Publicity Secretary of the party, said the PDP under their leadership is committed to fighting for multi party democracy.

He said the court heard the appeals, with all parties adopting their respective processes, and thereafter reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to counsel.

He said, “We charge all true and uncompromised PDP members to keep their faith alive, in the unwavering hope that the apex court will deliver judgments that will preserve multi-party democracy and prevent the imminent enthronement of a one-party state.

“The Supreme Court has, at several times in the history of our non-linear democratic experience, remained the last hope of Nigeria and Nigerians, even in the face of immense pressure and unimaginable risk,” he said.

Delay on ADC, PDP suits may disrupt primaries – Jide Ojo

A political analyst, Jide Ojo, has warned that the decision of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to reserve judgment in the leadership disputes involving the ADC and PDP could disrupt preparations for party primaries ahead of the 2027 general elections.

“It all depends; the fate of the parties in court are hanging in the balance, given the fact that the Supreme Court reserved judgment and said it will communicate the date to the litigants,” he said.

Ojo noted that the timeline for party primaries is already tight, with the window for conducting primaries opening immediately, while political parties are required to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at least 21 days before holding such exercises.

“Any political party that wishes to conduct primaries must give INEC 21 days’ notice and also submit both digital and hard copies of its membership register within the same period,” he said.

He added that INEC had fixed May 10 as the deadline for submission of party registers, warning that failure to comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act could have grave consequences.

“If the issue is not resolved on time as to which faction is recognised, they may miss out entirely, because the law is clear that any party that fails to submit its digitised membership register will not participate in the general elections,” he stated.

The analyst cautioned that if the apex court declines to make a clear pronouncement on which faction to recognise, the crisis could deepen and spill over into the electoral process.

According to him, such a scenario would leave INEC to exercise discretion in recognising one faction over another, a move he said could trigger fresh rounds of litigation.

Ojo stressed the need for the court to provide clarity in its eventual ruling to prevent a repeat of prolonged leadership crises witnessed in other parties.

Also reacting,, Barrister E.M.D. Umukoro, said the opposition parties such as the PDP and ADC need to look at the constitutions of their parties and identify the organs that can lead at such critical times to beat any delay in conclusion of the court case. For some parties, it is the caretaker committee or the board, and they have the powers to send whatever the party has to send like membership list and candidates to INEC, that way it is valid, and they don’t run out of time.

“On the other hand, we have to appeal to the Supreme Court, we know their dockets are full and they have a lot on their hands. At the same time, it is important that based on the rules, election matters are dealt with expeditiously before they return to the regular appeals,” he said.

The concern

People across sectors have continued to express concern over the matter due to alleged involvement of external forces in the lingering crises within the two parties.

Recently, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, caused a stir when in a video clip, he was heard asking an ADC Reps member, Leke Abejide, to stay within the party and scatter it.

He told the Rep member: “I know you to be a committed party man. I know you to be a fighter. I know you to be someone who does not like to be cheated. So please, my charge to you is to stay in that same ADC. Fight them. Scatter them. Hold on to your party, ADC. Do not abandon them.

“We like what you are doing. Continue. Don’t mind what the former governor said; they will come and join APC. No, no, no. Stay in ADC. Win your re-election in ADC and you will. Bring Gombe, what’s his name again? Bala Gombe. Bring him. Do the right thing. You are a fighter. Do the right thing. Nobody can come and take your party away from you. A party that you’ve built with your sweat and your money and everything. Continue. Good luck in court.”

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