Uncertainty in ADC as Supreme Court delays verdict on leadership tussle

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a development that mirrors a similar decision by the apex court in the ongoing crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

A five-member panel of the court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed no date for judgment after hearing arguments from parties involved in the ADC case, stating that a date would be communicated in due course.

The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was instituted by former Senate President David Mark, who is leading a faction of the ADC supported by key opposition figures.

Mark is challenging the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the maintenance of the status quo ante bellum in a suit brought by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.

He argued that the appellate court overstepped its jurisdiction, insisting that disputes relating to party leadership are internal matters that courts should not entertain.

Joined in the appeal as respondents are Gombe, the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and the party’s immediate past national chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Among the reliefs sought, Mark is asking the court to restrain INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction pending the determination of the appeal, as well as to halt proceedings in a related suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

His legal team, led by Jubril Okutepa (SAN), maintained during proceedings that the matter is non-justiciable, relying on previous Supreme Court rulings on internal party disputes.

However, the respondents urged the court to dismiss the appeal, arguing that the lower court acted within its jurisdiction and that the matter is properly before the courts.

INEC, which did not file any process in the appeal, had earlier removed Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal as national officers of the ADC, citing compliance with the Court of Appeal judgment.

The electoral body also stated that it would not recognise any faction of the party until the legal dispute is conclusively resolved.

Despite this, the Mark-led faction has continued preparations for a national convention, underscoring the deepening divisions within the party.

At the Federal High Court in Abuja, proceedings in the substantive suit filed by Gombe have been put on hold. Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely, warning that continuing with the case while a related appeal is pending before the Supreme Court would amount to “judicial rascality.”

In a parallel development, the Supreme Court has also reserved judgment in the PDP leadership crisis involving the Kabiru Tanimu Turaki-led faction, which is contesting the nullification of the party’s 2025 national convention.

Both cases are expected to clarify the extent to which courts can intervene in internal party affairs, with legal analysts noting that the outcomes could significantly shape party politics and judicial precedent ahead of future elections.