The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, April 30th for judgment that will shape the fate of both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the African Democratic Party (ADC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The apex court, in notices it sent out on Wednesday, indicated that it would deliver judgments in four separate appeals bordering on the leadership crises that is rocking the two opposition parties.
While the appeals involving the PDP are seeking validation of the outcome of the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025, that of the ADC is challenging the interference of courts in the alleged domestic affairs of the party.
It will be recalled that a five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, had on April 22 reserved judgment on the cases after all the parties involved adopted their respective briefs of argument.
In one of the appeals marked SC/CV/164/2026, which was by the Tanimu Turaki, SAN-led factional national executives of the PDP, the appellants sought the setting aside of judgments of the Court of Appeal and the Federal High Court in Abuja, which faulted the conduct of the Ibadan convention.
The appellate court had berated the Turaki-led PDP for defying the November 14, 2025, judgment of Justice Peter Lifu of the high court, which stopped the Ibadan convention.
The high court had specifically barred the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from supervising, monitoring, or recognising any convention held without including former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido as a contestant.
The restraining order followed a suit filed by Lamido, a foundation member of the PDP, alleging he had been arbitrarily denied the chance to contest for National Chairman.
He cited the PDP and INEC as the first and second defendants, respectively.
The trial court found that Lamido had been unjustly denied a nomination form, contrary to the PDP Constitution and guidelines.
It declared that the party must create opportunities for members to aspire to positions.
Culled from The Vanguard
