Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the leadership crises rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Congress (ADC), deepening uncertainty over their readiness for the 2027 general elections.
The apex court, sitting in a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, has declined to fix a date after hearing appeals stemming from prolonged internal disputes within both opposition parties, ADC and the PDP.
The development comes amid a tight electoral timetable released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which has already set May 10, 2026, as the deadline for submission of party membership registers.
Presidential and National Assembly elections are slated for January 16, 2027, while governorship and state assembly polls will follow on February 6, 2027.
Party primaries are scheduled to run between April 23 and May 30, 2026, placing additional pressure on parties with unresolved leadership crises.
In PDP, the crisis has split the party into factions—one led by Tanimu Turaki and backed by governors including Seyi Makinde and Bala Mohammed, and another aligned with Nyesom Wike.
The court is considering appeals challenging earlier rulings that nullified the PDP’s 2025 national convention in Ibadan over alleged procedural violations. Both factions remain confident of victory, even as tensions escalate over legitimacy and control of party structures.
Similarly, the ADC is battling a three-way leadership crisis involving factions linked to former Senate President David Mark, Nafiu Gombe, and Dumebi Kachikwu. The disputes stem from disagreements over leadership succession following the exit of former chairman Ralph Nwosu.
The crisis has triggered multiple lawsuits, with Mark urging the court to rule that the matter is an internal party affair and restrain INEC from recognising rival factions.
Meanwhile, the PDP faction aligned with Wike has gone ahead to release a 2027 timetable and pegged its presidential nomination form at ₦51 million, with governorship forms at ₦21 million—moves dismissed by the rival camp as premature and “an exercise in futility.”
Both parties now face mounting uncertainty, as aspirants and members await the Supreme Court’s final decision, which is expected to shape their political future and determine their participation in the 2027 elections.
