Supreme Court Voids PDP Ibadan Convention and Restores David Mark to ADC Leadership

Nigeria's Supreme Court nullifies the PDP Ibadan convention and reinstates David Mark as ADC leader, ordering further trials for the opposition coalition.

By: AXL Media

Published: May 2, 2026, 4:51 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from LEADERSHIP

The Final Judicial Strike Against the Ibadan Convention

The Supreme Court delivered a decisive blow to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, by voiding the national convention held in Ibadan on November 15, 2025. This ruling followed a prolonged legal battle initiated by the Saminu Turaki led faction, which argued that the exercise was fundamentally flawed. The court affirmed that the convention ignored previous legal warnings regarding state congress disputes and constitutional breaches. By nullifying the event, the apex court has effectively dismantled the leadership structures that emerged from that gathering, leaving the party in a state of administrative reconstruction.

Reinstating the ADC Leadership and Redirecting the Trial

In a separate but equally significant ruling, the Supreme Court addressed the internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress, ADC. The court set aside a previous Court of Appeal order and restored Senator David Mark to his position as the legitimate leader of the opposition coalition. Justice was served by dismissing the appellate court’s directive to maintain a status quo, which the Supreme Court described as unwarranted. However, the victory for Mark is transitional, as the apex court ordered that the substantive leadership dispute must return to the Federal High Court for a comprehensive hearing and final determination.

Political Factions Scramble to Interpret the Verdicts

Following the court’s pronouncements, various political interests have moved quickly to frame the legal outcomes in their favor. The former Turaki faction, now operating under the name Uncompromised PDP, claimed that the judgement has effectively left the party without any legitimate leadership. This interpretation contrasts sharply with the views of other party organs, suggesting a deepening rift within the opposition. As various stakeholders claim legal expertise, the political landscape remains clouded by conflicting narratives that seek to capitalize on the vacuum created by the nullification of the Ibadan convention.