Supreme Court don finally set date to hear two separate appeals wey dey cause plenty wahala for two major political parties for Naija. The date na April 22, 2026. For Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), na the Kabiru Turaki-led group dey appeal against court decision wey nullify their Ibadan National Convention wey hold November 15-16, 2025.
Justice Lawal Garba lead five-member panel for apex court. Dem grant Turaki group application for accelerated hearing. Dem also say make dem abridge time for filing briefs of argument. Chris Uche, wey be counsel to Turaki group, tell court say matter dey urgent because of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) timetable for 2027 general elections.
For the first appeal, Turaki group dey against PDP group wey loyal to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. Court order say make hearing notices reach Mohammed Abdulrahman, the seventh respondent, wey no show for court on Tuesday. Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), wey be counsel to Austin Nwachukwu and two others, ask for 15 days to file reply. But Supreme Court direct all nine respondents to file replies within five days each.
For second appeal, Turaki group dey against former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido and others. Court also grant accelerated hearing and fix April 22 for hearing. Lamido sue group over his exclusion from national chairmanship contest. Justice Peter Lifu of Federal High Court issue orders wey halt the convention. Lower courts don rule against Turaki-led executives, nullify Ibadan Convention, bar INEC from recognising outcomes, and restrict access to national secretariat.
Meanwhile, for African Democratic Congress (ADC), Supreme Court also fix April 22 for hearing of appeal by David Mark, wey be factional National Chairman. Mark dey appeal against March 12 judgment of Court of Appeal wey dismiss his appeal. The appeal concern September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of Federal High Court in Abuja wey refuse to grant injunctive reliefs for ex-parte application by party chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Justice Mohammed Garba lead five-member panel for this matter. Court order Mark lawyer, Jibril Okutepa (SAN), to file appellant brief and serve on Wednesday. Dem order respondents to each file and serve respondent brief within three days of being served. Appellant fit file reply brief within one day if need be.
Background of ADC matter show say Bala ask Federal High Court on September 2, 2025 to restrain INEC from recognising Mark-led executives. Bala argue say he never resign as national vice-chairman and suppose assume leadership after Ralp Nwosu exit as national chairman. He later declare himself national chairman. Nwite direct say make respondents, including INEC, show cause why motion no suppose grant.
Mark file appeal challenging jurisdiction of Federal High Court. But Court of Appeal dismiss Mark case on March 12, 2026. Dem say case incompetent and unmeritorious. Dem direct parties to return to trial court and maintain status quo ante bellum. INEC announce on April 1 say dem no go recognise factions led by Mark or Bala again. Commission say dem no go engage with both groups or monitor their meetings.
Mark-led faction file motion ask court to compel INEC to restore their names and recognise them as members of party national working committee (NWC). Sulaiman Usman (SAN) file the motion on April 7. Mark also file preliminary objection challenging competence of suit. He argue say Bala no get locus standi to institute action because he don resign as national vice-chairman. Mark say suit dey based on falsehood and concern internal affairs of political party wey no be justiciable matter.
Both PDP and ADC cases dey show how internal party crisis dey affect political stability for Naija. Supreme Court hearing for April 22 go determine wether these leadership tussles go continue or dem go finally settle am. The decisions go affect how INEC relate with these parties ahead of 2027 elections.
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