Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State and a factional Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Taminu Turaki, were present at the Supreme Court in Abuja on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, as the apex court heard an appeal arising from the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the case centres on the dispute over the PDP’s national convention held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The faction led by Turaki is challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which nullified the party’s convention held on November 15 and 16, 2025.
The appellate court’s decision had deepened divisions within the opposition party, with multiple factions laying claim to its leadership structure.
Below are pictures from the court today:
Hearing fixed for April 22
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, granted a request by the Turaki faction for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
The court also reduced the timeframe for filing legal briefs, signalling its intention to ensure a speedy resolution of the dispute.
During proceedings, the apex court directed that hearing notices be served on one of the respondents, Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was not represented in court.
This, the court noted, was necessary to ensure a fair hearing for all parties involved in the case.
Counsel to the Turaki faction, Chris Uche, urged the court to treat the matter with urgency, citing the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission ahead of the 2027 general elections.
He explained that a timely resolution of the dispute was crucial to the party’s preparedness for the polls.
Uche also tendered documents before the court to support the request for an expedited hearing.
Following the submissions, the Supreme Court fixed April 22, 2026, for the hearing of the two appeals filed by the Turaki-led faction.
The outcome of the case is expected to have far-reaching implications for the leadership structure of the PDP as it prepares for future electoral contests.