Supreme Court To Give Accelerated Hearing To ADC, PDP Appeals; Set April 22, Hearing Date

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has adjourned the hearing of  appeals filed by factions of the Peoples Democratic Party,  PDP, and  the African Democratic Congress, ADC, till April 22, 2026.

The apex court had, originally, scheduled to commence hearing of the appeals filed by the Senator David Mark-led faction of the ADC, and the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP, challenging the Court of Appeal judgments in matters relating to the leadership tussle within the two parties.

While the Mark-led ADC leadership is challenging the Appallate Court’s verdict of March 12,  ordering parties to return to the trial court for the continuation of proceedings in the application filed by the Bala Nafiu Gombe-faction of the ADC, disputing the Mark-led National Executive Committee NEC, the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the PDP also filed an appeal against the Court of Appeal verdict of March 9, 2026, nullifying its Ibadan National Convention, as well as affirming the trial Court’s ruling recognizing the Nyesom Wike-backed Abdulraham Mohammed-led PDP leadership.

Similarly, Mark, in his appeal, is seeking the order of the Supreme Court for an order of stay of execution of the  Court of Appeal ruling ordering parties in the leadership crisis to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion on notice filed by Nafiu Gombe before Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court Abuja.

However, a five-member panel of the country’s Apex Court led by Justice Mohammed Garba after taking appeals from both parties, directed the David Mark-led faction to formally file and serve all relevant court processes on  all the respondents within the next 24 hours.

Similarly, the respondents, upon the receipt of the legal processes are to file their responses, within the next 72 hours.

The panel of jurists noted that all filings of legal processes, as well as exchange of briefs among parties must be concluded on or before April 20,2026 to enable the Court commence accelerated hearing of the appeal by April 22, 2026.

With the position of the Supreme Court to give an accelerated hearing to the matter, the Mark-led NEC, which was on April 1, derecognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, purportedly on the strength of the Court of Appeal judgment of March 12, applied to withdraw its earlier relief- a stay of execution of the Appallate court’s order for the maintenance of status quo ante bellum.

Counsel to the Mark-led leadership Jibrin Okutepa argued that there was no longer the need to pursue the relief in the face of the Supreme Court’s resolve to expedite the hearing of the appeal.

The Supreme Court, in the absence of objections from the respondents, consequently struck out the stay of execution relief.

Before adjourning proceedings to April 22, the panel had expressed its readiness to commence immediate hearing if parties were ready.

“If parties were ready, we would have taken this appeal today. We need to deal with the appeal and not the motion. Ordinarily, this Court does not grant an order of stay.

“But the Court is willing to deal with the case as soon as possible if the parties are ready,” Garba, the panel Chairman stated.

Similarly, the panel also ruled to grant an application for an accelerated hearing filed by the Turaki-led PDP, with an order for the respondents to file a reply within the next five days while the applicants are to file a reply where necessary within the next 48 hours.

The Source reports that all the appeals are expected to be dispensed with by the Apex Court in record time to enable parties meet the May 10 ,2026 dateline for the filing of all relevant electoral documents at INEC ,in relation to the 2027 Polls.