Nigeria’s opposition entered a period of legal clarity and renewed uncertainty after the Supreme Court of Nigeria ruled on leadership disputes in the Peoples Democratic Party and the African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 elections.
In a split 3-2 decision, the court nullified the PDP national convention held Nov. 15-16, 2025, in Ibadan, citing violation of a subsisting order of the Federal High Court. Delivering the majority judgment, Justice Stephen Adah upheld an earlier Court of Appeal ruling that voided the convention which produced Kabiru Tanimu Turaki as chairman.
The trial court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had restrained the party from holding the convention until founding member Sule Lamido was allowed to contest. Lamido argued he was denied access to nomination forms, a position upheld by the court.
The Supreme Court ruled that proceeding with the convention despite the order amounted to disobedience and abuse of court process, declaring the exercise null and void. It dismissed the appeal and related cross-appeals for lacking merit.
In dissent, Justices Haruna Tsamani and Sadiq Abubakar Umar held that the matter was an internal party issue and not justiciable, adding that Lamido failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
In a separate unanimous ruling, the court ordered that the ADC leadership dispute be returned to the Federal High Court for determination on its merits. Justice Mohammed Garba said an earlier “status quo ante bellum” order by the Court of Appeal, which led the Independent National Electoral Commission to withhold recognition of a faction, was improperly granted.
Following the judgment, the PDP Board of Trustees, led by Adolphus Wabara, announced it had assumed interim national leadership to prevent a vacuum. The board said it would convene an emergency National Executive Committee meeting to appoint an interim National Working Committee.
The BoT said the ruling invalidated actions taken by officials linked to the voided convention, including the emergence of rival leadership structures. It urged party members to unite and reposition the party for the 2027 elections.
Meanwhile, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Nyesom Wike said the ruling had ended the PDP’s leadership crisis and eliminated factional claims. He maintained the party remains united and dismissed calls for a broader opposition coalition.
The ADC, in a statement by its spokesperson Bolaji Abdullahi, welcomed the judgment, describing it as validation of its leadership under David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola. The party called on INEC to restore recognition of its leadership.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said the ruling marked progress but cautioned that opposition efforts remain ongoing.
Separately, Attorney General of the Federation Lateef Fagbemi backed a suit seeking to compel INEC to deregister the ADC and four other parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional requirements.
The case, filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, argues that continued recognition of underperforming parties undermines electoral integrity and increases the cost and complexity of elections ahead of 2027.
