The Nigerian political landscape is currently gripped by significant legal battles, with the Supreme Court playing a pivotal role in determining the leadership structures of key opposition parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), ahead of the crucial 2027 general elections. These high-stakes litigations have created palpable tension and uncertainty, with far-reaching implications for democratic processes and electoral integrity.

The Peoples Democratic Party has been embroiled in a protracted leadership dispute concerning its national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025. This convention, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led factional national executives, was a subject of intense legal challenge. A Federal High Court had initially halted the convention, citing breaches of the party's constitution and failure to comply with due process, specifically the denial of nomination forms to aspirants like former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido. Despite this order, the convention proceeded, leading to further litigation. The Court of Appeal subsequently upheld the lower court's decision, affirming that the exercise was held in violation of valid judicial pronouncements and that its outcome could not stand. Dissatisfied, the Turaki-led faction approached the Supreme Court, arguing that the matter was an internal party affair and therefore not justiciable. However, the Supreme Court, in a split judgment of three to two, affirmed the nullification of the Ibadan convention. Justice Stephen Jona Adah, delivering the majority judgment, emphasized that court orders must be obeyed until set aside, and the blatant disobedience by the PDP faction was fatal to its case. The apex court held that an appellant in disobedience of a court order cannot be heard. Conversely, Justices Haruna Tsanami and Abubakar Sadiq Umar, in their minority judgment, maintained that the issue was an internal affair of a political party that courts lacked jurisdiction to entertain, despite acknowledging the disobedience of court orders. This ruling significantly consolidates the position of the Nyesom Wike-aligned faction within the PDP.

Parallel to the PDP's internal struggles, the African Democratic Congress has been grappling with its own leadership crisis, with profound implications for its future. The Supreme Court was also expected to deliver a crucial judgment in the ADC leadership dispute on Thursday, April 30, following delays in resolution. The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, stemmed from a challenge by a faction led by former Senate President David Mark against a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the maintenance of the status quo. Mark's faction argued that the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction, claiming the dispute concerned internal party affairs beyond judicial intervention. This case was instituted by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who contested the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership. INEC had, based on the appellate court's ruling, withdrawn recognition for the Mark-led executive. Despite these setbacks, the National Chairman of the ADC, David Mark, has assured party members of the party's participation in all 2027 elections, expressing confidence in overcoming all legal challenges. He stated his commitment to leading the legal battle, even without a legal background, and reiterated that the party was fully prepared to operate within the ambit of the law. Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, recently issued an order restraining INEC from recognizing or participating in ADC state congresses not conducted by their elected executives, and also restrained the Mark-led leadership from interfering with the functions and tenure of elected state executives. This ruling reiterated that courts have a duty to intervene where there is an allegation of breach of constitutional or statutory provisions.

Further compounding ADC's challenges, the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has aligned with a suit seeking to compel INEC to deregister ADC and four other political parties (Action Alliance, Action Peoples Party, Accord, and Zenith Labour Party). The AGF argued that their continued existence violates constitutional provisions, specifically Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution and the Electoral Act 2022, which stipulate performance thresholds such as securing at least 25 per cent of votes in a state presidential election or winning elective seats. The AGF stressed that non-performing parties inflate ballots, burden public funds, and undermine electoral integrity. The Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators initiated this suit, accusing INEC of neglecting its constitutional duty. This move has been interpreted by some opposition parties as an an attempt by the Bola Tinubu administration to weaken dissent. Amidst these legal battles, founding National Chairman of ADC, Ralph Nwosu, asserted that the 2027 elections would not hold if ADC was excluded, claiming the party had secured the necessary statistics to take over power. Similarly, the 2023 presidential candidate of ADC, Dumebi Kachikwu, described the nullified congresses as the work of "desperados" attempting to hijack the party, declaring that ADC is "not for sale" and will be on the 2027 ballot. Osun State ADC also urged calm, clarifying that the court ruling only restrained INEC from recognizing congresses, not nullifying them.

These ongoing legal entanglements highlight significant questions about internal party democracy, judicial intervention in political affairs, and the enforcement of electoral laws in Nigeria. The outcomes of these Supreme Court and Federal High Court judgments will not only define the immediate future of the ADC and PDP but will also set important precedents for political party governance and participation in Nigeria's 2027 general elections.