The Supreme Court has scheduled April 22 to hear appeals arising from the leadership dispute within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), particularly those filed by a faction led by Kabiru Turaki.
The appeals challenge the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal which nullified the party’s national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Lawal Garba, approved a request for an expedited hearing and shortened the timeline for the filing of legal briefs.
In one of the appeals, involving the Turaki-led group and another faction associated with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, the court directed that hearing notices be served on one of the respondents, Mohammed Abdulrahman, who was absent during the proceedings.
During the session, counsel to the Turaki faction, Chris Uche (SAN), emphasised the urgency of the case, noting its relevance to the timetable of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ahead of the 2027 general elections. He also submitted an affidavit supporting the request for accelerated hearing.
On the other hand, counsel representing some of the respondents, Emmanuel Ukala (SAN), sought additional time to respond, explaining the need to obtain records from the appellate court’s ruling that invalidated the Ibadan convention.
The court, however, directed all respondents to file their responses within five days and fixed April 22, 2026, for hearing.
In a related appeal involving the same faction and former Jigawa State Governor Sule Lamido, the court also granted accelerated hearing and set the same date for proceedings.
The dispute stems partly from Lamido’s exclusion from the party’s national chairmanship race, which prompted legal action and led to court orders stopping the convention.
Earlier rulings by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal had gone against the Turaki faction, nullifying the convention, restraining the electoral body from recognising its outcome, and, in some instances, limiting access to the party’s national secretariat.
The faction has now approached the Supreme Court, insisting that the matter concerns internal party affairs and that due process was followed in organising the convention.
The case is expected to be heard on April 22, when the apex court will consider the arguments of all parties involved.