By Kamsi Anayo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in appeals arising from the leadership crises within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In the PDP matter, the appeal was filed by the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction, challenging the nullification of the party’s 2025 national convention.
A five-member panel of the court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, announced that the date for judgment would be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their final written addresses.
The Turaki faction is seeking to overturn the March 9 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed earlier decisions invalidating the party’s Ibadan convention held on Nov. 15 and 16, 2025.
Before the apex court, the faction argued that the dispute falls within the realm of internal party affairs and is therefore non-justiciable. It maintained that due process was followed in organising the convention.
However, lower courts had consistently ruled against the faction, nullifying the convention, restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising its outcome, and issuing orders affecting access to the party’s national secretariat.
The Court of Appeal had upheld two separate judgments of the Federal High Court in Abuja, both of which barred the PDP from conducting the convention pending compliance with the Electoral Act and the 2022 Regulations and Guidelines for Political Parties.
In one ruling, Justice James Omotosho held that the party failed to conduct valid state congresses as required by law and its constitution, thereby invalidating the planned convention.
In a separate decision, Justice Peter Lifu restrained the party from proceeding with the convention until it allowed former Jigawa State governor, Sule Lamido, to participate in the national chairmanship race, having found that he was unjustly excluded.
The suits that led to these rulings were instituted by aggrieved party members, including state executives from Imo, Abia, and the South-South zone, setting the stage for the protracted leadership crisis now before the apex court.
In a related development, the Supreme Court also reserved judgment in an appeal concerning the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A separate five-member panel, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, stated that the judgment date would be communicated to counsel after the adoption of briefs.
The appeal, filed by a factional National Chairman of the ADC, challenges the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier appeal.
That appeal had sought to overturn the Sept. 4, 2025 ruling of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which refused to grant certain injunctive reliefs sought in an ex parte application filed by a party chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Justice Mohammed Garba made the announcement after counsel for all parties adopted their respective briefs and urged the court to grant their reliefs.
