Supreme Court Set to Decide PDP, ADC Leadership Crises Today as Lower Court Blocks INEC from Recognising Mark-Led ADC Congresses
By Passman Akpos
Abuja — The political future of two major opposition parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), hangs in the balance as the Supreme Court is expected to deliver judgments today on four crucial appeals that could significantly shape the 2027 general elections.
The apex court’s verdicts will determine the legitimacy of leadership structures in both parties, particularly over the controversial PDP national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025 and the fierce battle for control of the ADC involving former Senate President David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and Temitope Ogga.
The development comes amid fresh drama after a Federal High Court in Abuja barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising recent congresses conducted by the David Mark-led National Executive Committee of the ADC.
The lower court ruling has triggered intense political reactions, with the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, declaring that the alleged “hijack plot” by the Mark-led leadership had collapsed.
PDP Factions Await Final Supreme Court Verdict
In the PDP matter, the Supreme Court is set to rule on appeals challenging the validity of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led factional leadership.
The convention had earlier been stopped by the Federal High Court after former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido sued the party, alleging he was unfairly denied the opportunity to contest for national chairman.
Justice Peter Lifu had ruled in Lamido’s favour, ordering the PDP to allow him obtain nomination forms and campaign, while restraining INEC from recognising any convention held without complying with due process.
However, the Turaki-led faction proceeded with the convention despite the court order, prompting both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal to fault the exercise, describing it as contemptuous and a gross abuse of court process.
The Supreme Court is now expected to decide whether the convention and the resulting leadership remain valid.
ADC Leadership Battle Deepens
For the ADC, the legal war is centered on who should be recognised as the authentic national chairman between David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and Temitope Ogga.
Mark had approached the Supreme Court to challenge the Court of Appeal’s decision ordering the maintenance of status quo and preventing his faction from being recognised by INEC.
He argued that the issue was an internal party matter and that the courts lacked jurisdiction to interfere.
INEC had earlier removed Mark and former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as ADC National Chairman and Secretary respectively, pending final judicial resolution.
Court Stops INEC from Recognising Mark-Led Congresses
In a separate judgment yesterday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court ruled that INEC must not recognise congresses organised by committees appointed by the Mark-led caretaker leadership.
The court held that only duly elected state executive committees of the ADC have the constitutional authority to conduct state congresses and that the caretaker committee lacked such powers.
Justice Abdulmalik further restrained the Mark-led leadership from interfering with the tenure and functions of existing state executives, declaring that their four-year mandate remains valid until properly conducted congresses and a national convention take place.
She ruled that where a party constitution is violated, courts are duty-bound to intervene.
“Hijack Plot Has Failed” — Kachikwu
Reacting to the judgment, Dumebi Kachikwu said the verdict was a major victory against those attempting to seize control of the party.
“The ADC is not for sale. Those who tried to hijack our party have been shown the way out through the same back door they came in,” he declared.
He described the nullified congresses as “kangaroo congresses” and insisted that state chairmen who make up the party’s NEC are the rightful authority to conduct national conventions and congresses.
“We’ll Study the Judgment” — Bolaji Abdullahi
Responding on behalf of the Mark-led faction, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi said the party would carefully study the judgment before deciding its next legal step.
He maintained that the recent congresses did not terminate the tenure of current state executives and insisted that newly elected officials were yet to be inaugurated.
Experts Warn ADC May Miss Elections
Legal experts and policy analysts have warned that if the leadership crisis remains unresolved, the ADC could face serious difficulties participating effectively in the 2027 elections.
Lawyer Idris Faro said the ruling could weaken the party’s ability to mobilise support for candidates, while media expert Lanre Arogundade warned that the party risks being shut out of future electoral processes if timelines and constitutional procedures are not met.
As Nigeria’s opposition landscape enters another round of legal uncertainty, today’s Supreme Court verdict is expected to have far-reaching consequences for the balance of political power ahead of 2027.
