- In the ADC case, former Senate President David Mark is asking the apex court to overturn earlier decisions
- The Supreme Court will also decide on a leadership dispute within the PDP
- The appellate court maintained that the case was not protected under the doctrine of internal party affairs
Nigeria’s Supreme Court is expected to deliver rulings today in two major political disputes involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), decisions that could influence the opposition’s structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that both cases centre on leadership disagreements and whether courts have the authority to intervene in internal party matters.
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In the ADC case, former Senate President David Mark is asking the apex court to overturn earlier decisions that allowed a suit challenging the party’s leadership to proceed.
His lawyer, Jibrin Okutepa, argued that such disputes fall outside the jurisdiction of the courts, relying on a previous Supreme Court ruling that limits judicial involvement in party affairs.
However, counsel to Nafiu Gombe, Robert Emukpero, opposed the appeal, insisting that the lower courts acted within the law and that the case should continue.
The Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed Mark’s appeal, describing it as premature and directing that the matter return to the trial court while maintaining the existing situation.
Following that ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of the leadership linked to Mark pending final determination.
In a separate but related case, the Supreme Court will also decide on a leadership dispute within the PDP arising from a controversial national convention held in Ibadan.
The faction led by Taminu Turaki is seeking to overturn a judgment that invalidated the convention. Their counsel, Paul Erokoro, urged the court to recognise the exercise and dismiss a counter-appeal backed by allies of Nyesom Wike.
On the other side, former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and other respondents argued that the issue goes beyond internal party politics, pointing out that the convention was held in defiance of a valid court order.
Lamido had earlier obtained a ruling from the Federal High Court stopping the convention until he was allowed to contest for the position of national chairman.
Despite this, the event went ahead, prompting both the trial court and the Court of Appeal to declare it unlawful.
The appellate court maintained that the case was not protected under the doctrine of internal party affairs, leading to the cancellation of the convention.
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