By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Supreme Court has scheduled Thursday, April 30, to deliver judgment in the protracted leadership dispute within the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The apex court fixed 2 p.m. for the ruling on Wednesday, following earlier concerns raised by the party over delays in the case.
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba had reserved judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses.
The appeal was filed by a faction of the party led by former Senate President David Mark, who is challenging a March 12 decision of the Court of Appeal. The appellate court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.
Mark, in his appeal, argued that the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction, maintaining that the matter concerns internal party affairs, which he said are beyond judicial intervention.
The suit originated from aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who are contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
Other respondents include the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
In addition to challenging the appellate court ruling, Mark is seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction pending the determination of the appeal.
The respondents, however, have urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the lower court acted within its powers.
Ahead of the judgment date, the Mark-led faction had written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, warning that any further delay could jeopardise the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, signed by the party’s counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the faction claimed that INEC had already acted on the appellate court’s judgment by withdrawing recognition of the party’s leadership, effectively leaving the ADC without a recognised leadership structure.
The letter further noted that with preparations for the 2027 elections already underway, the party’s ability to meet statutory requirements hinges on a timely verdict from the apex court.
The faction warned that failure to deliver judgment promptly could exclude the ADC from the general elections, thereby denying millions of its members and supporters the right to participate under the party’s platform.
It stressed that, given the circumstances, a delayed ruling could amount to a denial of justice, with significant implications for the party’s political future.
