Nigeria’s top opposition parties await decisive Supreme Court ruling today

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are set for a decisive moment today as the Supreme Court delivers rulings on separate appeals arising from their internal leadership disputes.

The judgements are expected to significantly shape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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On the ADC, the apex court is scheduled to hear an appeal filed by former Senate President David Mark, who is challenging a leadership dispute by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman and leader of a rival faction within the party.

A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Lawal Garba, had fixed today for hearing after all parties adopted their processes in the case.

The dispute, which has persisted for months, centres on the legitimacy of competing leadership structures within the party, with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yet to formally recognise any of the factions following earlier judicial pronouncements.

Similarly, the Supreme Court will also rule on appeals connected to the PDP’s internal leadership crisis. The cases were filed by a faction led by former Minister of Special Duties, Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, challenging earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 9.

A separate five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier granted an accelerated hearing of the matter following applications by the parties involved.

The court also abridged timelines for filing processes, ordering that all briefs be completed before April 21, with today fixed for the substantive hearing and ruling.

The PDP crisis is rooted in competing claims over the legitimacy of its national leadership and the validity of key party decisions, including outcomes of disputed convention and executive committee resolutions.

The twin rulings are coming at a critical time for Nigeria’s opposition parties, which are expected to conduct primaries between April 23 and May 30, 2026, according to the timetable released by INEC.

However, only two of the 21 registered political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have so far released schedules for their primaries.

The delay among major opposition parties has intensified concerns over their preparedness for the 2027 elections, particularly as internal disputes continue to delay consensus on leadership and candidate selection.

Analysts warn that unresolved court cases could complicate the conduct of primaries and potentially expose party processes to further legal challenges.

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Within the ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesman for the Mark-led camp, has expressed optimism that internal disagreements will be resolved ahead of the elections, noting that the party remains focused on rebuilding unity.

In the PDP, tensions persist between blocs aligned with key political figures; Governor Seyi Makinde and Nyesom.Wike, FCT Minister, further deepening uncertainty over the party’s cohesion.

Other parties, including the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP), are also experiencing varying degrees of internal friction.

Political observers say today’s Supreme Court decisions could either stabilise or further unsettle the opposition bloc, with implications for party organisation, primaries, and ultimately their competitiveness in the 2027 general elections.