2027 polls: ADC, PRP blow hot

–We stand at grave risk of exclusion, ADC writes CJN

–Seeks quick delivery of S/Court judgment

–PRP says it’s ready for genuine, manufactured aggression

By Henry Ojelu, Omeiza Ajayi, Ikechukwu Nnochiri & Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA—The African Democratic Congress, ADC, yesterday, wrote the Chief Justice of Nigeria, CJN, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking quick delivery of judgment in the leadership crisis threatening its political fortunes.

The party, which is home to a coalition of frontline opposition figures in the country, lamented that if the Supreme Court did not deliver its judgment within the next three days, it would face the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.

The letter, dated April 28, and written by Senator David Mark-led faction of the ADC, drew the attention of the CJN to the elections timetable and schedule of activities that were earlier released by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

The party, which in a separate statement alleged that the crisis in the Peoples Redemption Party, PRP, was  caused by the All Progressives Congress, APC, spoke as the PRP said it is ready for any manner of aggression, warning that its restraint should not be mistaken for weakness.

This was as senior lawyers dismissed claims of a conspiracy over the Supreme Court’s delay in deciding the fate of the ADC, with barely 11 days to INEC’s deadline for submission of membership registers, even as they warned that timing could have decisive political consequences.

Our participation in polls hinged on Apex court’s timely ruling

Insisting that its ability to participate in the general elections will be  dependent on the timely delivery of judgment in the appeal before the apex court, ADC warned that its exclusion will amount to disenfranchising millions of Nigerians.

The letter, titled  “Re: Suit No: 8SC/CV/180/2026: Senator David Mark -v Nafiu Bala Gombe and  4 Ors, a passionate plea for the timely delivery of the judgment in the above mentioned appeal to forestall the impending irreparable harm to the constitutional right of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, to participate in the 2027 general elections,” signed by counsel to the faction, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa, SAN, read in part: “We are counsel to African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2nd Respondent in the above mentioned appeal. 

“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on April 22, 2026, and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court. 

“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously, having regard that INEC, the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognise the leadership of African Democratic Congress, leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment, even though the ADC remains a recognised registered political party in Nigeria. 

“We also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC time-table for the 2027 general elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced. 

“Your Lordship will find attached copies of the INEC press release de-recognising the leadership of ADC and the revised INEC time-table for the 2027 general elections. 

“My Lord, ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 general elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant appeal. 

“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections. 

“This will disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice. 

“My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this honourable court.  We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.   We thank Your Lordships as we look forward to Your Lordships kind intervention.”

Meanwhile, the letter was received and endorsed by the office of the CJN, yesterday. 

Recall that a five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, had on April 22, reserved judgment in the leadership crisis rocking the ADC, after hearing from all parties.

The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by Senator Mark.

Matter before S/Court

The appellant prayed the court to set aside a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment which, he said, is against the interest of justice. 

He argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction by ordering maintenance of the status quo ante bellum in a suit filed by aggrieved party members, led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.

Mark contended that the dispute involved a political party’s domestic affairs, in which courts lacked jurisdiction to intervene.

Besides Gombe, other respondents in the appeal include the ADC, the National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Mark sought, among other reliefs, an order restraining INEC from recognising anyone other than him and the current national officers, pending determination of the appeal.

He also requested orders barring INEC from altering the party’s leadership structure as currently constituted and staying proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court, Abuja, until the appeal is heard.

While adopting their brief of argument, Mark’s legal team, led by Mr. Jubril Okutepa, SAN, insisted the dispute is a non-justiciable internal party matter, as previously held by the Supreme Court.

Although INEC did not file any process to either support or counter the appeal, all the other respondents, except Gombe, urged the apex court to allow the appeal.

They maintained that the trial court was properly seized of facts of the case still pending before it. 

INEC had removed Mark and Aregbesola from its portal and website as ADC national chairman and secretary, respectively, on April 1, citing the Court of Appeal’s judgment.

The electoral body said it will, in line with the order for maintenance of the status quo ante bellum, not recognise any of the warring factions until the legal dispute is determined.

Justice Nwite had on April 14,  adjourned sine die (indefinitely), hearing of the substantive case that Gombe filed to sack the Senator Mark-led leadership of the ADC.  The trial judge said he could not proceed with the matter, in view of the related issue before the Supreme Court.

He ruled that proceeding would amount to “judicial rascality”, while the related appeal pends before the Supreme Court.

Crisis in PRP ‘engineered’ ADC alleges 

ADC also yesterday, raised concerns over what it described as an ‘engineered’ crisis in the PRP; warning that a pattern of destabilising opposition parties could narrow Nigeria’s democratic space, ahead of the 2027 polls.

The party said the speed with which a faction emerged within the PRP, coming shortly after speculation about possible coalition talks, pointed to a troubling pattern that could limit political choices and deepen tensions as the next elections draw closer.

The concerns were raised by the National Publicity Secretary of ADC, Bolaji Abdullahi, who spoke on the recent developments involving the PRP and the broader opposition landscape.

He said: “About three weeks ago, the leadership of the PRP, led by its National Chairman, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, paid a courtesy visit to the national chairman of the ADC. A few days later, rumours began to circulate that the coalition leadership was considering the PRP as an option. 

“Although this is not true, it took only that single whiff of speculation for a faction to emerge almost overnight in what had been a historically tranquil political party, challenging the leadership of Baba-Ahmed.”

Shrinking democratic space

The ADC spokesman said the development reflected what he described as a shrinking democratic space, despite the government’s position that crises within opposition parties are internal matters.

His words: “This is the reality of Nigeria’s shrinking democratic space under the APC. The government may continue to deny any involvement in the crises within other parties, insisting that these are merely internal failures, but the pattern is visible. The world can see what is happening. More importantly, they can see where this path leads.”

Raising concerns about the implications, Abdullahi queried whether there were voices within the ruling party willing to caution against actions that could deepen instability.

“But here is the question: Is there no one within the APC who can caution those engineering crises in opposition parties that they are, in fact, sowing the seeds of national instability?” he queried.

He warned that a strategy built on weakening opposition platforms could ultimately prove counterproductive, saying “a political strategy that is anchored on sabotaging every opposition platform is ultimately self-destructive. When people are left with no options, they are, in reality, left with no choice.” 

We’re  prepared for both genuine, manufactured aggression – PRP

Meanwhile, the PRP has denied any internal split, describing claims of parallel structures within its ranks as false and part of a plot to undermine the party as it gains momentum, ahead of the 2027 elections.

The push back comes amid circulating claims of a breakaway tendency within the party, an assertion the PRP said was misleading and pointedly timed, just as it begins to attract wider political attention through the opposition coalition.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji  Muhammed Ishaq, the party said those behind the claims are not recognised by its leadership or members and do not speak for the PRP.

“It is important to categorically state that there is no such thing as a ‘faction’ within the Peoples Redemption Party,” the party said.

It dismissed the promoters of the claims as unknown within its structure, insisting the narrative didn’t reflect its internal reality.

“The claims by some individuals or group claiming to operate under a fictitious ‘PRP-Vanguard Collective’ are baseless and do not represent the reality of our party. These so-called individuals are nobody of consequence and are not known by the PRP leadership or its members,” it added.

Raising questions over timing, the party suggested the development was not accidental but designed to distract from its growing visibility.

“Why is it that we are just hearing about these claims now, at a time PRP is gaining wider political attention and gathering more momentum?” it queried.

The party said: “We want to make it known that we cannot and will not be shaken by intimidation, media distortion, or propaganda. We are prepared for both genuine and manufactured aggression.” 

While maintaining it would remain lawful and peaceful, the party stressed it would respond firmly to misinformation and what it called unfair criticism.

Our restraint not weakness

“Our restraint should not be mistaken for weakness. Our principled party and members will always remain lawful and peaceful, while firmly resisting attacks, misinformation, and unfair criticism from the ruling party, its proxies, and agents anywhere,” the PRP added. 

It said such developments were predictable as it expands its presence, but insisted they would not slow its advance.

The party said further: “These rustic antics and tactics are, to some extent, expected as PRP continues to grow and make its mark in Nigerian politics. But know this: they will never succeed in stopping the forward march of PRP. 

‘’s the saying goes, ‘no man can stop what God has destined.’ The wickedness and desperation of these syndicates may blind them to the reality, but our resolve remains firm.”

APC pushes back against allegations of undermining PRP

Efforts to reach National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka, for comments yesterday proved abortive as he was not immediately available but a party official, who preferred anonymity, dismissed the claims, insisting the ruling party had no interest in the PRP or any other party.

“Which one is PRP again? A party that has no presence in any local government? We are talking serious matters and focused on our forthcoming primaries. 

‘’Anyway, I believe the party might officially respond to the allegations later,” the official said.

Lawyers urge trust in S-Court amid INEC’s deadline pressure

Meanwhile, 11 days to INEC’s deadline for submission of political parties’ membership registers, senior lawyers have dismissed claims of a conspiracy over the Supreme Court’s delay in deciding the fate of the ADC.

The uncertainty has heightened tension within political circles, with fears that a late judgment could effectively shut the party out of the electoral process.

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Victor Opara, rejected insinuations of deliberate exclusion, insisting that the apex court must not be rushed to meet political deadlines.

He described the Supreme Court as a heavily burdened institution handling appeals from across the federation, alongside cases within its original jurisdiction. “The justices are overworked, they are human, not mechanical robots,” he said, stressing that decisions at that level require depth, research and judicial caution.

Opara maintained that the court is fully aware of the implications of its rulings and must prioritise accuracy over speed.

“Judgments are not churned out like akara; they must be grounded in sound scholarship,” he added, urging Nigerians to trust the judiciary.

Delicate intersection

Offering a broader analysis, legal practitioner and Executive Director of Cadrell Advocacy Centre, Evans Ufeli, said the situation reflects a delicate intersection between law and politics, where judicial timelines collide with electoral deadlines.

He noted that while courts operate strictly within the confines of evidence, precedent, and constitutional duty, the timing of their decisions could produce far-reaching political effects. “The moment carries both legal and political tension,” Ufeli said.

According to him, if the dispute involves issues such as internal party governance or compliance, delays may simply reflect the demands of thorough adjudication.

However, he warned that a ruling delivered too close to INEC’s deadline could have the same effect as disqualification, even if not expressly stated.

“An adverse decision near the cutoff can exclude a party through procedural inevitability,” he explained.

Ufeli cautioned against attributing such outcomes to conspiracy without concrete evidence, noting that proving collusion would require more than suspicion.

“In a system where trust is already fragile, timing alone can shape perception,” he said, adding that legal outcomes could quickly translate into political consequences.

He warned that persistent uncertainty risked undermining electoral credibility, as voters might begin to see the process as manipulated.

To prevent such scenarios, Ufeli called for reforms, including faster resolution of pre-election disputes and mechanisms to allow provisional participation, pending final court decisions.

ADC can’t be excluded – Ugwuanyi

On his part, legal practitioner, Charles Ugwuanyi, argued that established legal principles protect litigants from being disadvantaged by statutory timelines while cases were pending.

“It is settled law that timelines do not run against a litigant before a competent court,” he said.

Ugwuanyi explained that courts possessed inherent powers to extend deadlines or make orders necessary to ensure justice, regardless of administrative cutoffs.

He noted that there had been instances where courts ordered the inclusion of candidates or parties in elections, even at advanced stages. “Court orders can override timelines where justice demands,” he added, reinforcing the judiciary’s supremacy in such matters.

The post 2027 polls: ADC, PRP blow hot appeared first on Vanguard News.