Supreme Court Reserves Judgment on ADC Leadership Crisis

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved its judgment in a legal battle to determine the authentic leadership of the African Democratic Congress. This case is pivotal as the party prepares for political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections. The apex court’s decision follows an earlier order for accelerated hearings into disputes involving several major political parties.

Arguments were heard on Wednesday regarding a deep internal rift between two primary factions. One group is aligned with former Senate President David Mark, while the opposing faction is led by Nafiu Bala Gombe. The outcome of this case, marked SC/CV/180/2026, will dictate which group holds the legal authority to manage the party’s affairs moving forward.

The court is specifically reviewing whether to uphold previous rulings that challenged Mark’s leadership standing. These prior decisions led the Independent National Electoral Commission to strike officials from Mark’s faction out of official records. The presence of national party officials at the proceedings underscored the high stakes of the judicial review.

Tensions within the ADC have intensified following the recent collapse of a planned national convention in Abuja. The event, organized by the Gombe-led faction, reportedly failed to attract delegates or officials, leaving the venue empty. This incident has sparked further debate regarding the organizational legitimacy of the contending groups.  

Counsel to the party, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), noted that the court directed all parties to file their briefs within a very strict timeline. Mark’s appeal seeks to halt the execution of a lower court’s judgment that favored his rivals. Okutepa emphasized the complexity of the case, suggesting that the court must first determine its own jurisdiction.

Regarding the constitutional questions at hand, Okutepa stated: “Well, the issue before the court fundamentally is whether this is a matter the court can even adjudicate on.” For now, the ADC remains in a state of legal limbo as members await the final verdict. The judgment is expected to be a defining moment for the party’s future participation in the electoral process.