Supreme Court Issues New Ruling In ADC Leadership Crisis

According to Ireporter Online, the Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the leadership crisis affecting the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after hearing arguments from all parties involved in the case.

The matter, heard by a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Garba, is linked to a factional dispute over the party’s national leadership. The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by a factional National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, who is challenging actions that led to the recognition crisis within the party.

The dispute intensified after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, following an Appeal Court ruling in a case initiated by a faction led by former Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe. Gombe had sought legal orders restraining Mark, Aregbesola, and others from parading themselves as national officers of the party, while also urging INEC not to recognise them.

INEC, in response, removed their names from its official portal, citing the appellate court’s directive to maintain the status quo and stated it would withhold recognition of any faction until the legal process is concluded.

In his appeal before the Supreme Court, Mark is seeking an order compelling INEC to continue to recognise his faction as the authentic leadership of the ADC. He also requested that the electoral body be restrained from altering the party’s leadership structure and that proceedings in a related Federal High Court case be halted pending the determination of the appeal.

His legal team, led by Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Jubril Okutepa, argued that the dispute is an internal party affair and therefore not subject to judicial interference, relying on previous Supreme Court decisions.

Although INEC did not file any response to the appeal, other respondents urged the court to dismiss the case, describing it as lacking merit.

The appeal also challenges a March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which had upheld the maintenance of status quo in the leadership dispute. The appellants argued that the appellate court acted beyond its jurisdiction, insisting that courts should not intervene in the internal affairs of political parties.

Other respondents in the case include the African Democratic Congress, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.