*As Federal High Court Voids Mark-Led Congresses And Three Factions Claim Victory From The Same Ruling
The Supreme Court of Nigeria will today deliver judgments in two high-stakes political appeals involving the leadership crises rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, in rulings scheduled for 2 p.m. that will either clear the path for the opposition’s participation in the 2027 general elections or effectively shut both parties out of the electoral process at the very moment the primaries window is open and closing.
The judgments, listed under “Political Appeals” on the apex court’s official cause list for Thursday, April 30, come nine days after the five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba heard arguments from all parties on April 22 and reserved judgment, and just two days after the ADC’s legal team wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria warning that any further delay could expose the party to “grave and irreversible risk” of exclusion from the 2027 polls.
The Supreme Court’s rulings arrive against the backdrop of a Federal High Court judgment delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik that voided the ADC’s congress committee, restrained INEC from recognising any congress organised by the Mark-led caretaker leadership, upheld the tenure of state executive committees, and barred Mark and other defendants from interfering with state structures, a ruling that has produced the remarkable spectacle of three competing ADC factions each claiming the judgment as a victory for their position.
The apex court will deliver judgment in three appeals, two involving the PDP and one involving the ADC.
The ADC Appeal (SC/CV/180/2026)
The ADC appeal, fixed for 2 p.m., centres on whether courts have jurisdiction to entertain disputes over the internal affairs of political parties.
Mark’s legal team, led by Jibril Okutepa SAN, argued at the April 22 hearing that the Supreme Court itself had settled the issue in a March 21, 2025 judgment holding that “no court has jurisdiction to entertain cases bordering on internal affairs of political parties.” He urged the apex court to allow the appeal and hold that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to entertain Gombe’s suit.
Robert Emukpero SAN, representing Gombe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the Court of Appeal’s judgment, which held that Mark’s earlier appeal was premature and brought without leave of the trial court. INEC did not file any process to either support or counter the appeal.
If the Supreme Court allows the appeal, it would clear the path for the Mark-led leadership to participate and field candidates in all elective offices in the 2027 elections. If the appeal fails, the ADC could be shut out on the grounds that it lacks a recognised leadership to conduct and supervise candidate selection.
The PDP Appeals
The PDP matters involve two related appeals arising from the controversial Ibadan convention of November 15 to 16, 2025, which produced the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led national executive.
In the first appeal, Paul Erokoro SAN, representing the Turaki-led executive, urged the Supreme Court to set aside the Court of Appeal’s judgment that nullified the Ibadan convention on grounds it was held in disobedience to Federal High Court orders. Sule Lamido, through his lawyer Ewere Aliemeke, and Chief Joseph Daudu SAN for the third to fifth respondents, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
In the second appeal, Chief Chris Uche SAN, arguing for PDP, submitted that the two lower courts granted orders against the party’s convention without jurisdiction, urging the apex court to set aside both judgments and hold that the lower courts erred in assuming jurisdiction in the internal matters of PDP.
The PDP battle lines pit the faction said to be loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, an ally of President Tinubu, against the camp of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde. The legal dispute stemmed from Justice Peter Lifu’s order restraining the then Damagum-led executive from proceeding with the Ibadan convention until Lamido, an aspirant for national chairman, was given the opportunity to purchase nomination forms. The party defied the court order and held the convention, leading to its nullification by the Court of Appeal.
The Abdulmalik Judgment
The Federal High Court judgment delivered on Wednesday by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026 has added a dramatic new dimension to the ADC crisis on the eve of the Supreme Court’s verdict.
The suit was filed by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick, suing for themselves and on behalf of all ADC state chairmen and state executive committees.
The defendants included the ADC, David Mark, Patricia Akwashiki, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Oserheimen Osunbor, and INEC.
Justice Abdulmalik held that neither the 1999 Constitution nor the ADC constitution empowered the caretaker or interim National Working Committee led by Mark to appoint committees for the purpose of conducting state congresses.