The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered that the protracted leadership dispute within the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) be returned to the Federal High Court for full hearing and determination, effectively restoring the David Mark-led executive pending the outcome of the substantive case.
In a unanimous judgment, the apex court set aside the Court of Appeal’s earlier directive for parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, describing the order as “unnecessary, improper and unwarranted.”
While dismissing arguments challenging the appellate court’s jurisdiction, the Supreme Court affirmed that the Court of Appeal acted within its powers but ruled that the leadership tussle must be conclusively resolved by the trial court.
The decision marks a significant legal victory for the Mark-led faction, which had been battling to retain control of the party amid growing uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The dispute began after a rival faction led by Gombe sought judicial intervention to restrain Mark’s leadership from functioning as the legitimate national executive and urged the court to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise his faction instead.
Initially, the Federal High Court directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.
However, following the Court of Appeal’s controversial status quo ante bellum ruling, INEC announced it would not recognise either faction and subsequently removed the names of Mark and his executive members from its official records.
That move effectively plunged the ADC into a leadership vacuum at a politically sensitive period, sparking protests by party loyalists in Abuja. Demonstrators accused INEC of partisanship and interference, with party stalwarts storming the commission’s headquarters to demand the resignation of its chairman, Joash Amupitan.
Despite INEC’s position, the Mark-led faction proceeded with its scheduled congresses and national convention, insisting that the commission was meddling in the party’s internal affairs.
Further complicating matters, a Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, April 30, also barred INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the disputed caretaker leadership.
The latest Supreme Court ruling came just two days after the Mark faction formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging expedited judgment in the matter.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, signed by its counsel, S.E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., the faction warned that prolonged uncertainty over the case could jeopardise its constitutional right to participate effectively in the 2027 elections and leave the party without a recognised leadership structure.
With the apex court’s intervention, the ADC’s internal crisis now returns to the Federal High Court, where the substantive legal battle over the party’s leadership will ultimately be decided.
