Concerns are mounting within the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party over the delay in the Supreme Court’s judgment as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s deadline for submission of party membership registers approaches.
The development has further raised anxiety about the possible exclusion of the opposition parties from the 2027 elections. Worried by the situation, the ADC, on Tuesday, wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun.
In the letter, the party urged the Supreme Court to urgently deliver judgment in a pending appeal involving the party’s leadership crisis.
In a letter dated April 28, addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, signed by its legal counsel, Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), the party cautioned that continued delay could have severe consequences for its participation in the electoral process. The letter stressed the urgency of judicial intervention to avoid disenfranchisement.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde-backed PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong, in an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, equally expressed concern over the situation but maintained optimism, noting that while the delay is worrying, they remain hopeful that the courts will ultimately dispense justice fairly and in good time.
On its part, Jungudo Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP bloc led by Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, dismissed concerns that the delay is affecting its activities, insisting that it remains the legally recognised leadership of the party and continues to operate without disruption despite the pending Supreme Court judgment.
On April 22, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing on the leadership dispute affecting the ADC and PDP and subsequently reserved judgment.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, did not announce a date for the ruling after hearing arguments in separate appeals challenging earlier lower-court decisions on the matter.
Six days after the conclusion of the hearing, there is growing anxiety among the 2027 aspirants in the two opposition parties, as the Supreme Court has yet to communicate a date for the judgment.
While the ruling All Progressives Congress has advanced significantly in its internal preparations and has already commenced the sale of nomination forms to aspirants, the PDP and ADC have yet to fully begin key activities, even as the INEC deadline for submission of party membership registers draws closer.
INEC had fixed May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers. It also scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and state House of Assembly elections will be held on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
According to the timetable, party primaries and the resolution of related disputes will take place between April 23, 2026, and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections are expected to begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state assembly elections will commence on September 9, 2026.
