The Supreme Court of Nigeria will deliver judgment on Thursday, 30th April, in two significant political cases involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba heard the cases on 22nd April and reserved judgment until now. The ADC case, marked SC/CV/180/2026, is listed for 2 p.m., while the timing for the PDP matter remains unannounced.
The ADC dispute centres on a leadership tussle between former Senate President David Mark and a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe. Mark is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling from 12th March, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo. He argues that the lower court overstepped its jurisdiction and that the matter is an internal party affair.
Conversely, the respondents—including the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu—are urging the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal. They contend that the Court of Appeal acted within its lawful powers.
In a pre-judgment development, lawyers representing the ADC wrote to the Chief Justice of Nigeria on 28th April, requesting an expedited ruling. They warned that further delay could disrupt the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The legal team also expressed concern over INEC’s actions, which they claim relied on a lower court ruling to withdraw recognition of the party’s legitimate leadership. As a result, the ADC—though still a registered party—currently lacks recognised leadership, a situation its lawyers argue risks excluding it from future elections and disenfranchising its supporters.
Further details will follow once the judgments are delivered.
