Nigeria's Supreme Court has reserved judgment in two separate appeals concerning leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), raising the possibility that both parties could be excluded from the 2027 general elections. A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba announced the judgment would be delivered after counsel submitted their final briefs, without specifying a date. The ADC appeal, filed by National Chairman David Mark under reference SC/CV/180/2026, challenges a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed his case for being incompetent. That decision upheld a preliminary objection by former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, who argued Mark's appeal raised issues not considered by the trial court. The original suit stemmed from a September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which refused to grant injunctive reliefs sought by Bala in an ex parte application. Following the ongoing crisis, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition from both the Mark and Bala factions on April 1, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo. The Mark faction asserts its legitimacy based on a July 29, 2025 National Executive Committee (NEC) resolution establishing a caretaker leadership, claiming constitutional authority to create interim structures. It also points to its earlier recognition by INEC in September 2025 and the conduct of an April 14 national convention as proof of validity. In the PDP case, the Kabiru Turaki-led leadership is appealing concurrent rulings by two high courts and the Court of Appeal that nullified its November 15–16, 2025 national convention in Ibadan. Those judgments favoured a faction aligned with Nyesom Wike, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory. With INEC requiring all parties to hold primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, stakeholders fear delays in the Supreme Court's decision could prevent both parties from participating in the 2027 polls.
David Mark's appeal to the Supreme Court over his leadership claim sits at odds with INEC's April 1 withdrawal of recognition from his faction, leaving no legally acknowledged ADC structure despite his assertions of due process. The party's July 29, 2025 NEC resolution and April 14 convention lose practical meaning if judicial delays block INEC compliance before the 2026 primary window. Without a ruling before April 23, 2026, ADC members who participated in those congresses may find their efforts rendered void. The same applies to PDP members under the Turaki faction, whose November 2025 convention was already nullified by appellate courts.
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