WED APRIL 22 2026-theGBJournal| The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in two politically charged disputes that could reshape party leadership dynamics across the country, including the appeal involving former Senate President David Mark over the African Democratic Congress (ADC) crisis and a separate challenge tied to the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) contested convention.
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba said the date for judgment would be communicated to counsel, as the court considers appeals by the Makinde-backed Turaki faction seeking to overturn earlier rulings that voided the Ibadan convention, deepening uncertainty within both parties.
In the ADC case, a five-member panel, headed by also Justice Mohammed Garba reserved judgment after lawyers for both parties adopted their various briefs and prayed the court to grant their reliefs.
Mark’s appeal, marked: SC/CV/180/2026, is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which refused to grant some injunctive reliefs contained in an ex-parte application filed by the factional National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
In the PDP case, the appeals and cross-appeals arising from the judgments of the Court of Appeal, as well as those of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, delivered by Justices Omotosho and Lifu, were heard today by the Supreme Court. The Court has reserved judgment to a later date.
It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal upheld the judgments of Justices Omotosho and Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja Division, and consequently nullified the PDP convention of the Party held in Ibadan.
The Court also upheld the suspension of A.K. Ajibade, SAN, and other former officers of the Party, including Sen. Samuel Anyanwu.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the Party appealed to the Supreme Court, seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration that both the trial court and the Court of Appeal lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, same being a suit emanating from the internal affairs of the Party.
Also dissatisfied, the Respondents (Sen. Samuel Anyanwu and others) filed a cross-appeal, seeking to set aside the decision of the Court as it relates to the suspension of A.K. Ajibade, SAN, Sen. Samuel Anyanwu, and others.
The Court heard the appeals, with all parties adopting their respective processes, and thereafter reserved judgment to a date to be communicated to counsel.
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