Supreme Court Takes Fresh Decision in ADC Leadership Crisis

The Supreme Court has announced that it will deliver its judgment regarding the ongoing leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

This decision follows a hearing conducted by a five-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, which involved representatives from all parties concerned.

The case, identified as SC/CV/180/2026, was brought before the court by Senator David Mark, who claims the position of factional National Chairman of the ADC.

Mark’s appeal arises from a ruling by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which chose to derecognize his leadership following a lawsuit initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former Deputy National Chairman. Gombe asserts his right to the national chairmanship of the party.

Gombe’s legal action not only seeks to prevent Mark, Rauf Aregbesola (the National Secretary), and other current leaders from acting in their official capacities but also aims to compel INEC to cease its recognition of their leadership.

The court’s forthcoming judgment is anticipated to have significant implications for the ADC’s governance and structure.

INEC removed Mark and Aregbesola’s names from its portal as National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC, citing the Appeal Court’s “status quo” order and related correspondence.

INEC also stated that it would not recognise any of the factions involved in the leadership tussle until the matter is resolved in court.

Mark sought, among other reliefs, an order restraining INEC from recognizing 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 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, however, all the other respondents urged the apex court to dismiss it for want of merit.

Appeal Challenges Court Of Appeal Ruling
The Mark-led faction approached the Supreme Court to challenge the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal on the ADC leadership status.

They argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction when it ordered the maintenance of the status quo based on a suit filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.

According to the appellants, the issue concerns the internal affairs of a political party, which they said courts should not interfere in.

Apart from Gombe, other respondents listed in the appeal include the African Democratic Congress, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.