The Supreme Court is set to deliver judgment today in the leadership disputes rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a decision expected to shape the future of both opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The cases, listed under political appeals, are scheduled for judgment at 2 pm today, Thursday, April 30, 2026.
The PDP case has an appeal number SC/CV/166/2026, while the ADC matter is marked SC/CV/180/2026.
Ahead of the verdict, leaders of the ADC reportedly held an emergency strategic meeting on Wednesday night to review possible outcomes of the judgment and agree on the next line of action for the opposition coalition.
A political commentator, Imran Wakili, confirmed the meeting in a post on đť•Ź.
He wrote, “ADC leaders are currently in an emergency strategic meeting ahead of tomorrow’s Supreme Court ruling on the party’s leadership tussle. The closed-door meeting is expected to review possible outcomes of the judgment and chart the next line of action for the opposition coalition, which has adopted the ADC as its major political platform ahead of 2027.
“Notably absent from the ongoing high-level consultation are Mr Peter Obi and Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.”
Court Restrains INEC On ADC Congresses
In a fresh development, a Federal High Court on Wednesday restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising congresses conducted by the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC pending the resolution of the party’s internal disputes.
Reacting to the ruling, Mark, in a statement posted on đť•Ź by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, assured party members that the party would be on the ballot for all elections in 2027 despite the legal challenges.
Mark spoke after receiving a briefing from the party’s legal team on the Federal High Court judgment.
He said, “You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party.
“I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.
“We are more than prepared and ready for these cases, and we shall do everything within the ambits of the law to surmount every situation.
“In this legal battle, though I am not a lawyer, I will lead from the front, and we shall surely triumph.”
He added that the ADC legal team had begun the process of appealing the judgment and had applied for a stay of execution.
Kachikwu, State Chairmen Back Ruling
The 2023 presidential candidate of the ADC, Dumebi Kachikwu, and some state chairmen of the party welcomed the Federal High Court ruling.
They said they would not allow the party to be hijacked.
The Supreme Court had, on April 22, concluded hearings in the leadership disputes involving the ADC and the PDP.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, reserved judgment after hearing arguments in separate appeals challenging earlier decisions of lower courts.
The ADC dispute centres on the protracted leadership crisis involving Mark and a rival faction led by Nafiu Gombe.
Mark is challenging the March 12 decision of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the leadership tussle.
He argued that the appellate court overreached itself, insisting that the dispute was an internal party matter outside judicial intervention.
However, the respondents, including the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal.
They argued that the lower court acted within its jurisdiction.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, counsel for the ADC, S.E. Aruwa (SAN) & Co., urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to ensure prompt delivery of judgment.
The lawyers warned that any delay could jeopardise the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
They said INEC had allegedly acted on a lower court ruling to “remove or de-recognise the leadership” of the party, leaving the ADC “without leadership at the moment, even though the ADC remains a recognised registered political party in Nigeria.”
The lawyers added, “The ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 general elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.”
They warned that failure to deliver judgment promptly could expose the party to a “grave and irreversible risk” of exclusion from the polls.
“Justice delayed, in this particular circumstance, would amount to justice denied,” they added.
Party Leaders Expected In Court
Expected at the Supreme Court today are Mark, Abdullahi and other ADC leaders.
Also expected are members of the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde’s camp of the PDP, including Tanimu Turaki (SAN), National Secretary, Taofeek Arapaja, former Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, and Publicity Secretary, Ini Ememobong.
From the camp of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, those expected include the National Chairman, Abdulrahman Mohammed; National Secretary, Senator Samuel Anyanwu; National Organising Secretary, Umaru Bature; and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido.
INEC had fixed May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers.
The commission also scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while governorship and state Assembly elections are fixed for Saturday, February 6, 2027.
According to the timetable, party primaries and resolution of related disputes will run from April 23, 2026, to May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while campaigns for governorship and state Assembly polls will start on September 9, 2026.