Supreme Court Set to Decide ADC, PDP Leadership Crises Ahead of 2027

April 30, 2026, is a key date for Nigeria’s opposition politics as the Supreme Court is set to deliver judgment on the leadership crises in the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party.

The decisions are expected to shape how both parties prepare for the 2027 general elections. At the centre of both cases is one issue: who is truly in control.

ADC Leadership Battle

The ADC is divided between two factions.

One group is led by former Senate President David Mark. The other is led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman.

The crisis deepened after the Court of Appeal ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. David Mark challenged that ruling at the Supreme Court, arguing that leadership disputes within political parties should not be decided by courts.

Meanwhile, INEC has already moved to derecognise the party’s leadership based on a separate ruling. This has left the ADC in a difficult position ahead of 2027.

Without recognised leadership, the party risks missing key electoral deadlines.

PDP Convention Dispute

The PDP’s crisis comes from its November 2025 national convention in Ibadan.

Before the event, a Federal High Court had stopped the party from going ahead. The order followed a complaint by Sule Lamido, who said he was blocked from contesting for national chairman.

Despite the court order, the PDP went ahead with the convention.

The Court of Appeal later criticised that move and ruled against the outcome. The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which will decide whether the convention stands.

Why This Matters

The rulings will determine which factions INEC recognises as legitimate.

That recognition is critical. It affects who can organise party activities, conduct primaries, and submit candidates for the 2027 elections.

For the ADC, the stakes are even higher due to the current leadership uncertainty.

For the PDP, the focus is on legitimacy and control of party structures.

What Is Really at Stake

These cases showst a wider problem in Nigerian politics: internal party disputes often end up in court.

Instead of building strong political movements, parties spend time and resources fighting themselves.

With 2027 approaching, both the ADC and PDP need clear leadership and unity if they want to challenge the ruling party.

What to Expect

All eyes are now on the Supreme Court.

The judgments could settle the crises or deepen them, depending on how the parties respond.