Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in African Democratic Congress Leadership Dispute
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), against Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party. The appeal stems from a leadership crisis within the ADC, which has left the party without a legally recognised executive structure.
A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Lawal Garba, concluded hearings on Wednesday after lawyers for both parties adopted their written briefs of argument. The court announced that its judgment will be delivered on a date to be communicated to all parties involved.
The dispute centres on internal party politics and the extent to which Nigerian courts can intervene in the affairs of political parties. The case has moved through the judicial hierarchy, with the Court of Appeal previously dismissing Mark’s appeal on grounds of procedural incompetence. The Supreme Court’s forthcoming ruling will be final and binding, potentially clarifying the limits of judicial intervention in party leadership matters.
At the heart of the matter are constitutional principles governing political parties in Nigeria. Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution guarantees citizens the right to freely form and join political associations, while Section 6 vests judicial powers in the courts. Sections 221 to 229 further regulate political parties and assign oversight responsibilities to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Nigerian jurisprudence has long grappled with balancing party autonomy against judicial authority. Landmark cases such as Onuoha v Okafor established that courts should generally refrain from interfering in internal party affairs. However, exceptions exist, as demonstrated in Amaechi v INEC and APC v Marafa, where courts intervened when party actions violated internal rules or affected the electoral process.
The Supreme Court is expected to address several key issues in its ruling, including whether Mark’s appeal is procedurally competent, whether the judiciary has jurisdiction to intervene in the leadership dispute, and whether the actions of the party’s National Executive Committee comply with the ADC’s constitution.
The stakes are particularly high as INEC currently does not recognise any faction of the ADC, potentially affecting the party’s ability to field candidates and participate effectively in the 2027 general elections. Depending on the outcome, the ruling could either affirm the lower court’s decision, effectively ending Mark’s legal challenge, or potentially validate one faction over the other.
This case represents a defining moment for Nigeria’s constitutional democracy, testing the balance between party supremacy and the rule of law. The Supreme Court’s decision will not only determine the fate of the ADC but also reinforce or redefine the legal principles governing political parties in Nigeria.
