Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in ADC Leadership Dispute

Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in ADC Leadership Dispute

The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in a high-stakes appeal filed by David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), against Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party, deepening uncertainty over the party’s leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.

Justice Lawal Garba, who led a five-member panel, announced that judgment would be delivered on a later date after lawyers for all parties adopted their final written addresses for and against the appeal.

At the centre of the dispute is Mark’s request for the apex court to stay the execution of a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier appeal over the leadership tussle.

The appellate court, in a judgment delivered by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, upheld a preliminary objection raised by Bala, ruling that Mark’s appeal was incompetent as it introduced issues not contained in the original decision of the trial court.

The legal battle traces back to a September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declined to grant injunctive reliefs sought in an ex-parte application filed by Bala—effectively setting the stage for the protracted litigation.

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The leadership crisis, which began as an internal transition dispute within the ADC in mid-2025, has since escalated into a full-blown legal confrontation involving multiple court rulings and regulatory intervention by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

In a significant development, INEC on April 1 withdrew recognition from both the Mark-led and Bala-led factions, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The electoral body stated it would not engage with any faction until a final judicial pronouncement is made, effectively leaving the party without a recognised national leadership.

This development has raised serious concerns about the ADC’s readiness for the 2027 general elections, as political parties are required to maintain recognised leadership structures to participate in electoral processes, including candidate nominations and congresses.

The Mark-led faction continues to defend its legitimacy, arguing that it emerged through due process based on decisions of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC). The group cites the July 29, 2025 ratification of a caretaker leadership and provisions within the party’s constitution—particularly Articles 13, 17(3), and 17(4)—which it says empower the NEC to administer the party and fill leadership vacancies when necessary.

It also maintains that eligibility requirements, including the two-year membership rule under Article 9(4), were lawfully waived through NEC resolutions to support coalition-building efforts ahead of the political cycle.

Additionally, the faction points to its earlier recognition by INEC in September 2025, as well as its conduct of congresses and a national convention held on April 14, as evidence of its legitimacy.

On the other hand, Bala’s camp insists that the processes leading to Mark’s emergence violated party rules and legal procedures, arguing that the courts have already affirmed the invalidity of the claims.

Legal analysts say the Supreme Court’s eventual ruling will be decisive, not only in determining the authentic leadership of the ADC but also in clarifying the limits of internal party powers versus judicial oversight in political party disputes in Nigeria.

With judgment now reserved, both factions—and the wider political community—await a verdict that could redefine the future of the ADC and its role as a potential opposition platform in the lead-up to 2027.

Supreme Court Reserves Judgment in ADC Leadership Dispute