By Joshua Tosin Ogunsakin 
The Supreme Court is set to deliver judgment today on the leadership disputes rocking the African Democratic Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party, a decision that could significantly shape the trajectory of both opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Officials of the parties were said to have held a late-night strategic meeting on Wednesday to assess possible outcomes of the verdict and determine the next line of action for the opposition coalition.
A political commentator, Imran Wakili, disclosed the development on his X handle, noting that key stakeholders met behind closed doors to review the situation, although some notable figures were absent.
According to The Punch, the development comes amid fresh legal complications following a Federal High Court ruling restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising ADC congresses conducted by a faction of the party pending resolution of its internal crisis.
Reacting to the ruling, ADC National Chairman, David Mark, assured party members that the party would overcome its legal challenges and participate fully in the 2027 elections.
“You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party.
“I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.
“We are more than prepared and ready for these cases, and we shall do everything within the ambits of the law to surmount every situation.
“In this legal battle, though I am not a lawyer, I will lead from the front, and we shall surely triumph.”
He added that the party’s legal team had already begun the process of appealing the judgment and applying for a stay of execution.
However, the 2023 ADC presidential candidate, Dumebi Kachikwu, backed the court’s decision, warning against what he described as attempts to hijack the party.
“I had long warned that the ADC is not for sale and that these political buccaneers would be shown the way out through the same back door they came in from.
“With this judgment, it has become clear that these desperados who attempted to hijack our party have failed woefully. We are aware that they are shopping for other parties to destroy and wish them bon voyage.
“To our party faithful, I urge you to remain vigilant. The battle is not over till it is over. The ADC will be on next year’s ballot, and any Nigerian who genuinely desires to salvage Nigeria should see the ADC as a ready home. We shall overcome.”
Also reacting, Chairman of ADC state chairmen, Kingsley Oggah, described the ruling as a relief.
“We see today’s court judgment as a blessing because what we have been fighting for has been resolved. We don’t want this party to die because we have laboured so much and spent time that can’t be quantified building it.
“But a few people, because of their selfish interest, are trying so hard to destroy the ADC. That is what we will not accept. It is also the main reason we are fighting to keep the party together.
“We don’t want to lose this party. If we cannot get our acts together, we can’t field candidates in the next election, and INEC has threatened that if we cannot win elections, the party will be deregistered. So, should we fold our arms and watch helplessly?”
In a separate statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the leadership had directed its legal team to review the judgment.
“The attention of the African Democratic Congress has been drawn to media reports that the Federal High Court, presided over by Hon. Justice Joyce O. Abdulmalik, has sacked the elected, but yet to be inaugurated, state chairmen of our party.
“It will be recalled that we issued a statement shortly after the congresses stating that the congresses have not truncated the tenure of the current State Executive, which would run its full course before the newly elected State Executives are inaugurated.
“Nevertheless, the leadership of ADC has instructed its legal team to review the said judgment and advise the party appropriately.”
Meanwhile, the founding National Chairman of the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, insisted that the party must be included in the 2027 elections.
“The culture in place is dirty. It’s very difficult to change the culture, but we will continue working very hard to do so once we are determined. You don’t need a million people to do it; you just need a few determined minds.
“With the number we have today in ADC, what we have achieved by the coalition is phenomenal, and no matter how anybody thinks they can knock this down, they cannot. To knock this down will be almost like knocking our democracy down, and God will not allow that. We have put enough strategies in place to ensure that it doesn’t happen.
“But what you may hear happening and see happening now is that when people in power, especially in third world countries, people who love impunity and feel that they can play God, are in power, they would try everything, especially when it’s clear to them that their time is over. The time is over for Tinubu politically, and he must go. The time is over for Akpabio (Senate President), and they must go.”
He further stated, “The statistics are already there on our portal. I think we’re already recording over 5 million people who are desirous of paying money to become members of ADC. By the time the registration closes, if it has not closed by today, we will have a minimum of 11 million people who are ready to contribute money.
“Despite the challenges the government in place is deliberately throwing at us, yesterday, some senators decided they are joining the ADC. All I know is that Tinubu and Amupitan cannot conduct any election in this country if ADC is not on the ballot.”
The leadership disputes in both ADC and PDP have drawn significant attention in recent weeks, with the apex court’s verdict expected to determine the control of party structures and influence preparations for the 2027 elections.