The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled April 22, 2026, to hear key appeals arising from the ongoing leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The appeals were filed by a faction of the party led by Kabiru Turaki, challenging earlier court rulings that nullified the PDP’s Ibadan National Convention held in November 2025.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Lawal Garba, approved a request for accelerated hearing of the cases.
The court also granted permission to shorten the time allowed for filing legal arguments, citing the urgency of the matter.
During proceedings, counsel to the Turaki faction, Chris Uche (SAN) urged the court to fast-track the case to align with the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 elections.
He supported the request with an affidavit highlighting the need for immediate judicial intervention.
In one of the appeals, the court directed that hearing notices be served on all parties, including Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was absent during the session.
Respondents in the case were instructed to submit their replies within five days, significantly reducing the usual timeframe.
The second appeal involves a legal dispute between the Turaki-led faction and former Jigawa State Governor, Sule Lamido, who had earlier challenged his exclusion from the party’s national chairmanship race.
Lamido’s suit had led to court orders stopping the PDP convention, with lower courts ruling against the Turaki faction.
Previous judgments by the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal invalidated the convention and barred INEC from recognising its outcomes.
The courts also issued orders affecting access to the party’s national secretariat.
However, the Turaki faction is asking the Supreme Court to overturn those decisions, arguing that the issues involved are internal party matters that should not be subject to judicial interference.
The dispute dates back to October 2025, when a Federal High Court halted preparations for the convention over alleged procedural violations.
Subsequent rulings reinforced the suspension, citing non-compliance with party rules and electoral guidelines.
The Supreme Court’s decision is expected to play a crucial role in determining the future leadership structure of the PDP as the party prepares for the 2027 general elections
