Supreme Court Sets April 22 To Hear ADC Leadership Crisis

According to Ireporter Online, the Supreme Court has scheduled April 22 for the hearing of an appeal connected to the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as the internal crisis in the party continues to intensify. The appeal, filed by a faction led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, is listed as SC/CV/180/2026 and will be heard by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Garba. The apex court directed the appellants to serve all necessary processes on the respondents within 24 hours, while respondents are expected to file their replies within three days of receipt. The court further ordered that the appellants may file responses to the respondents’ submissions within one day, insisting that all briefs must be exchanged and completed on or before April 20 to ensure an expedited hearing.

During proceedings, counsel to the Mark-led faction, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), withdrew a motion seeking to stay the execution of a Court of Appeal judgment which had ordered that the status quo ante bellum be maintained within the party. The withdrawal was made after the Supreme Court agreed to fast-track the substantive appeal, leading the court to strike out the motion. Justice Garba noted that the court was prepared to proceed immediately if all required documents were ready, stressing that the focus was on the appeal itself rather than interlocutory applications.

The dispute stems from a March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which the Mark-led faction is challenging on the grounds that the lower court allegedly exceeded its jurisdiction by intervening in what they describe as the internal affairs of a political party. Other respondents in the case include the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu. The crisis was further heightened after INEC, on April 1, removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its website as party leaders, citing compliance with the appellate court’s order to maintain the status quo pending resolution of the dispute. Despite the ongoing legal battle, the Mark-led faction insists that the party’s planned national convention will proceed as scheduled.