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By Lizzy Chirkpi
The Supreme Court has ordered an accelerated hearing in the ongoing leadership crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), fixing April 22, 2026, to hear both appeals.
In a ruling delivered on Tuesday, a five-member panel led by Justice Lawal Garba granted applications for abridgement of time, directing all parties to file and exchange relevant processes within five days. The court further allowed an additional two days for replies and mandated that all filings be concluded on or before April 21.
The decision followed separate motions by counsel to the appellants in both matters, who urged the apex court to expedite proceedings due to the urgency and potential implications on party leadership structures.
In the PDP appeal, counsel to the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction, Chris Uche (SAN), argued that the dispute required urgent judicial intervention, noting that an affidavit of extreme urgency had been filed. Other parties did not oppose the request but sought time to respond.
Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), representing one of the respondents, told the court his team had only recently been served and would typically require 15 days to respond but could comply within 10 days. Counsel to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Kingsley Magbin, as well as other respondents, aligned with the request for additional time, though none opposed the accelerated hearing.
The court, however, ruled in favour of a shortened timeline, stating it was persuaded by the urgency of the matter. “We find it expedient to grant these requests,” the panel held unanimously.
Notably, one of the respondents, Abdulrahman Mohammed, said to be aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was absent in court and unrepresented.
The PDP appeal stems from a protracted dispute over the party’s leadership, particularly the controversial national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025. The convention, which produced Turaki as chairman of a faction, was earlier nullified by the Federal High Court over alleged violations of party rules and exclusion of key stakeholders.
Despite court orders restraining the exercise, the PDP’s National Working Committee went ahead with the convention, prompting a rival bloc backed by Wike to reject the outcome and establish parallel structures.
Subsequently, the Court of Appeal affirmed the lower court’s rulings, dismissing arguments that the courts lacked jurisdiction over internal party affairs. Dissatisfied, the Turaki-led faction approached the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the decisions and halt their enforcement.
In a related development, the apex court also granted accelerated hearing in an appeal arising from the ADC leadership tussle.
Counsel to the party, J.S. Okutepa (SAN), sought an abridgement of time, which the court granted, aligning the matter with the April 22 hearing date.
The ADC case involves an appeal filed by a faction led by former Senate President David Mark against Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman. Mark is seeking to stay the execution of a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier appeal.
The appellate court had upheld a preliminary objection by Bala’s legal team, ruling that Mark’s appeal was incompetent and based on issues not arising from the trial court’s decision.
With both cases now set for hearing on the same day, attention has turned to April 22, when the Supreme Court is expected to deliver decisions that could shape the leadership and future direction of the two opposition parties.