The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the leadership crisis affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, took the decision after hearing arguments from all parties in the matter.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was instituted by Senator David Mark.
The appellant, who heads a faction supported by key opposition figures, is seeking to overturn a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling, which he said was not in the interest of justice.
He argued that the appellate court went beyond its powers when it ordered that the status quo ante bellum be maintained in a suit filed by dissatisfied party members led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.
Mark maintained that the issue concerns the internal affairs of a political party, which he argued falls outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
Aside from Gombe, other respondents include the ADC, the National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the party’s immediate past national chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking, among other reliefs, an order stopping INEC from recognising any leadership other than his faction pending the determination of the appeal.
He further asked for orders restraining INEC from making changes to the party’s leadership structure as it currently stands, as well as a stay of proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, until the appeal is resolved.
While adopting their written arguments, Mark’s legal team, led by Mr. Jubril Okutepa, SAN, insisted that the dispute is an internal party affair that cannot be adjudicated by the courts, in line with previous Supreme Court decisions.
Although INEC did not file any response either in support or opposition to the appeal, other respondents urged the apex court to dismiss it for lacking merit.
They argued that the trial court was properly seised of the facts of the case, which remains pending before it.
INEC had earlier removed Mark and Aregbesola from its portal and website as ADC National Chairman and Secretary respectively on April 1, relying on the Court of Appeal’s decision.
The commission said it would, in line with the order maintaining status quo ante bellum, refrain from recognising any faction until the legal dispute is resolved.
Despite INEC’s position—which the Mark-led faction has asked the Supreme Court to overturn—the ADC has insisted it will proceed with its planned national convention.
Justice Nwite of the Federal High Court had on April 14 adjourned sine die the hearing of the substantive suit filed by Gombe seeking to remove the Senator Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
The judge said he could not continue with the matter due to its connection with the pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
He ruled that proceeding would amount to “judicial rascality” while the related appeal pends before the Supreme Court.
