The Supreme Court has delivered a decisive Supreme Court judgment on the leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, restoring the leadership of former Senate President David Mark in the ADC while affecting the faction led by Tanimu Turaki in the PDP. The Supreme Court judgment, delivered in Abuja, addressed multiple appeals arising from internal party crises that have persisted ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court judgment follows months of legal disputes involving leadership tussles in both the ADC and PDP. These disputes stemmed from disagreements over congresses, conventions, and the legitimacy of factional executives within the parties.
In the ADC, the crisis involved a leadership contest between factions linked to David Mark and other party stakeholders, while in the PDP, the dispute centred on the national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025, which produced a faction led by Tanimu Turaki.
Lower courts, including the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal, had issued varying rulings, including orders restraining the recognition of certain party structures and conventions. The disputes created uncertainty over party leadership and raised concerns about participation in the 2027 elections.
In its ruling, the apex court resolved key issues relating to the ADC leadership crisis. The Supreme Court judgment set aside earlier decisions that had affected the recognition of the Mark-led leadership and ordered that the substantive dispute be returned to the Federal High Court for determination.
The court also vacated orders that required parties to maintain the status quo, holding that such directives were improperly issued in the circumstances of the case. A related report indicated that the apex court affirmed that certain procedural orders made by lower courts did not amount to final decisions capable of sustaining appeals.
On the PDP dispute, the Supreme Court judgment addressed appeals linked to the Turaki-led faction, which had sought to validate the outcome of its national convention. The lower courts had previously nullified the convention for failing to comply with legal and procedural requirements.
The apex court’s intervention effectively upholds the earlier findings that questioned the legality of the convention process, thereby impacting the standing of the Turaki-led faction.
The Supreme Court judgment carries significant implications for Nigeria’s political system, particularly as parties prepare for the 2027 general elections. By addressing leadership disputes in both ADC and PDP, the ruling is expected to influence party stability, internal democracy, and candidate selection processes.
For the ADC, the decision provides clarity on leadership recognition while returning substantive issues to the trial court for final determination. For the PDP, the ruling reinforces judicial scrutiny of internal party processes, especially in relation to conventions and compliance with legal requirements. The outcome also underscores the role of the judiciary in resolving intra-party conflicts and ensuring adherence to constitutional and electoral guidelines.
