Nigeria’s apex court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has scheduled April 22, 2026, to hear appeals linked to the leadership crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party.
The appeals were filed by a faction led by Kabiru Turaki, which is challenging earlier court rulings that nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan in November 2025.
During proceedings, a five-member panel headed by Justice Lawal Garba approved requests for an accelerated hearing. The court also shortened the timeline for filing legal documents, citing the urgency of the matter.
One of the appeals involves a dispute between the Turaki-led group and another faction believed to be aligned with Nyesom Wike. The court directed that all parties involved must submit their responses within a limited timeframe ahead of the hearing.
Legal counsel to the Turaki faction stressed the need for swift judicial intervention, pointing to the timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2027 general elections.
In a separate but related case, the court is also set to hear an appeal involving former Jigawa State governor Sule Lamido, who had earlier challenged his exclusion from the party’s leadership contest.
Previous rulings from lower courts had invalidated the outcomes of the Ibadan convention and restricted recognition of the faction’s leadership structure. Some decisions also limited access to party facilities.
However, the Turaki-led group insists that the issues in dispute fall within internal party affairs and should not be subject to judicial interference. They also argue that due process was followed during the convention.
The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing is expected to play a significant role in shaping the PDP’s leadership structure ahead of the 2027 elections.
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