Nigeria’s Supreme Court has reserved its final judgment in the high-stakes legal battle over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), deepening uncertainty within the opposition party.
The apex court, sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, adjourned for judgment after all parties formally adopted their written submissions. The five-member panel was presided over by Justice Mohammed Garba.
At the centre of the dispute is former Senate President, David Mark, who is leading one faction of the party and has approached the court to overturn an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal delivered on March 12.
In his appeal, Mark contended that the appellate court overstepped its bounds by intervening in what he described as an internal party matter, arguing that such disputes fall outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
The Court of Appeal had previously directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the leadership tussle—a decision Mark is now asking the Supreme Court to set aside.
The crisis originated from a suit filed by aggrieved members of the party, led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who are challenging the legitimacy of the leadership structure aligned with Mark.
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Also joined as respondents in the case are the ADC itself, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a former national chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.
As part of his reliefs, Mark is seeking a court order directing INEC to recognise only his faction as the legitimate leadership of the party pending the final determination of the case.
However, the opposing parties have urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the lower court acted within its powers and that the matter warrants judicial intervention.
Meanwhile, the internal wrangling has already attracted regulatory consequences. INEC has removed the names of all contending leaders from its official records and has declined to accord recognition to any faction until the courts deliver a definitive ruling.
With judgment now reserved, political observers say the Supreme Court’s eventual decision could have far-reaching implications—not just for the ADC, but for the broader question of how far Nigerian courts can go in adjudicating internal party disputes.
