Tension Builds at Supreme Court Ahead of PDP, ADC Appeal Judgments

|By Chinwendu Nwani

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Umar Sani, has said the atmosphere at Nigeria’s Supreme Court is tense as parties await judgments in appeals involving the PDP and the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

In a post on X on Thursday, Sani said lawyers, court officials, and party representatives had begun assembling at the court, while a five-member panel of justices was being awaited to deliver decisions on the cases.

He described the mood as “tense and solemn”, noting that those present were quietly observing prayers as they awaited proceedings.

“We are all seated at the Supreme Court of Nigeria, waiting for the five-member panel that will decide the appeals involving the PDP and the ADC,” he wrote.

“Counsel for the different parties are arriving gradually, while the court registrar and support staff are already in place.”

Sani added that members of a faction aligned with Taminu Turaki expressed hope for a favourable outcome and called for judgments guided by justice and the rule of law.

The Supreme Court is expected to rule on disputes linked to leadership crises within both parties.

The ADC case, marked SC/CV/180/2026, is scheduled for 2 p.m., while the time for the PDP matter was not listed on the court’s schedule.

The disputes follow actions by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which declined to recognise some individuals claiming leadership positions within the ADC, citing earlier court rulings and ongoing litigation.

For the PDP, the court is set to determine an appeal seeking validation of the party’s national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025.