By Mary Onyia
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed a date to deliver judgment in the leadership crisis affecting both the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The apex court had earlier reserved its decision, prompting the ADC to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), stressing the urgency of the matter and noting that time was not on its side.
On Wednesday, the court announced that judgment in the ADC case, marked SC/CV/180/2026, will be delivered at 2 p.m. on Thursday. However, no specific time was indicated for the ruling on the PDP matter, even though it is also before the court.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a ruling barring the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any state congresses conducted by committees set up by the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the ADC. Delivering judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that only state executive committees are empowered to conduct such congresses and affirmed that the four-year tenure of the party’s State Working Committees and State Executive Committees remains valid until properly constituted congresses and a national convention are held.