Leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) said yesterday that the reservation of judgment 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 in the elections. The Supreme Court yesterday reserved judgment 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.
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 renowned 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 the 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 before the scheduled 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 will communicate the day of judgment to them.
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 a suit filed by a former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, based on 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, judgment, 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 judgment of the lower court, which held that the appellant’s 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 the court, while directing parties to maintain the 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 judgments. Armed with a fresh court order granting access to the party’s national secretariat, held a national convention on March 29 and 30.