The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Wednesday deliver judgments in two high-profile political appeals arising from leadership crises within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The cases are listed under “Political Appeals” on the apex court’s cause list for April 30, 2026.
The ADC matter, marked SC/CV/180/2026, is scheduled for 2 pm.
The time for the PDP appeal had not been confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
The impending rulings come amid heightened political tension and legal contest over control of party structures ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The ADC dispute stems from a prolonged leadership tussle between former Senate President, David Mark, and a faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Mark is challenging the March 12 decision of the Court of Appeal, which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo.
He argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction, insisting the matter is an internal party issue that should not attract judicial intervention.
However, the respondents, including the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court acted within its powers.
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba heard the case on April 22 and subsequently reserved judgment.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, counsel to the ADC, S.E. Aruwa (SAN) & Co., urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to ensure the swift delivery of the judgment.
The lawyers warned that any delay could affect the party’s chances in the 2027 elections.
They also alleged that INEC had acted on a lower court ruling to remove or derecognise the party’s leadership.
According to the counsel, the development has left the ADC without a recognised leadership despite remaining a registered political party.
They noted that the party’s ability to meet electoral requirements set by INEC depends on the outcome of the appeal.
The lawyers cautioned that failure to deliver judgment promptly could expose the party to “grave and irreversible risk” of being excluded from the polls.
They added that such an outcome would disenfranchise millions of party supporters.
“Justice delayed, in this particular circumstance, would amount to justice denied,” the letter stated, stressing that the party’s political future hangs in the balance.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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