Fresh Twist At Supreme Court As African Democratic Congress Leadership Crisis Takes New Turn

A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Garba fixed the matter for judgment after hearing arguments from all parties involved.

The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by a factional National Chairman of the party, David Mark.

Mark approached the Supreme Court after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of his leadership following an Appeal Court case brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former Deputy National Chairman, who is also laying claim to the national chairmanship.

Gombe had asked the court to restrain Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and others from presenting themselves as ADC leaders, while also seeking to stop INEC from recognising them.

Following the Appeal Court’s status quo order and related correspondence, INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary. The electoral body also stated it would not recognise any faction until the legal dispute is resolved.

In his appeal, Mark is seeking an order preventing INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction pending the final determination of the case. He also asked the court to stop any changes to the party’s current leadership structure and to stay proceedings in a related case before the Federal High Court in Abuja until the appeal is decided.

Arguing for the appeal, Mark’s legal team led by Jubril Okutepa (SAN) maintained that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of a political party and should not be subject to judicial interference, citing previous Supreme Court decisions.

Although INEC did not file any process in support of or against the appeal, other respondents urged the apex court to dismiss the case for lacking merit.

The Mark-led faction is specifically challenging the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, arguing the appellate court exceeded its powers by ordering parties to maintain the status quo based on the suit filed by aggrieved members led by Gombe.

The appellants insist the matter remains an internal party issue beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.

Other respondents in the appeal include the ADC itself, Aregbesola, INEC, and the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.