The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), challenging a Court of Appeal ruling that dismissed his bid to consolidate control of the party amid a deepening leadership crisis.
Justice Lawal Garba, presiding over a five-member panel, announced the decision after lawyers for both sides adopted their written arguments. A date for the judgment will be communicated to the parties later.
Mark is seeking an order to stay the execution of the March 12 Court of Appeal decision, which upheld an objection by Nafiu Bala—former deputy national chairman—declaring Mark’s appeal incompetent. The appellate court ruled that the appeal was based on issues not reflected in the trial court’s ruling.
The dispute traces back to September 4, 2025, when Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja refused to grant injunctive reliefs sought by Bala in an ex-parte application. Since then, the leadership row has left the ADC without a recognised national leadership structure.
The crisis, which began as an internal transition disagreement in mid-2025, has now drawn in the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). On April 1, INEC withdrew recognition from both the Mark- and Bala-led factions, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The electoral body stated it would not engage with any faction until a final judicial determination is made—a stance that could significantly affect the ADC’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The Mark-led faction maintains it emerged through due process, citing National Executive Committee (NEC) resolutions in 2025, including the July 29 ratification of a caretaker leadership. The group relies on Article 13 of the ADC constitution, which empowers the NEC to administer the party, implement convention decisions, and establish interim structures where necessary. It also points to Articles 17(3) and 17(4) to justify the transition process, arguing that vacancies were properly filled through appropriate executive mechanisms.
On eligibility, the faction contends that requirements such as the two-year membership rule under Article 9(4) were lawfully waived through NEC resolutions earlier in 2025 to accommodate coalition-building efforts. It further argues that its initial recognition by INEC in September 2025, along with its conduct of congresses and the April 14 National Convention, affirms its legitimacy.
The outcome of the Supreme Court’s judgment will be pivotal in determining the ADC’s leadership and its ability to function as a viable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 polls.
