The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its judgment in the appeal filed by Senator David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), against lower courts’ handling of the party’s internal leadership dispute.
A five-man panel, led by Justice Garba Mohammed, took the decision after counsel for both parties adopted their written briefs of argument.
Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who represented Senator Mark, urged the apex court to allow the appeal.
He relied on the Supreme Court’s judgment of March 21, 2025, which held that courts lack jurisdiction over internal affairs of political parties.
Okutepa prayed the court to declare that the Federal High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain the suit brought by Hon. Nafiu Gombe against the ADC leadership.Opposing Counsel’s Submission
Robert Emukpero, SAN, counsel to the first respondent, Hon. Nafiu Gombe, asked the court to dismiss the appeal.
He argued that Senator Mark’s case was premature and urged the Supreme Court to uphold the lower courts’ decisions.
The crisis escalated when a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed Mark’s appeal against the jurisdiction of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The appellate court described the appeal as premature and filed without the leave of the trial court. It ordered the case to be heard expeditiously and directed parties to maintain the status quo ante.
Following the ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of Senator Mark’s leadership pending final determination of the authentic leadership of the ADC.
Dissatisfied, Mark approached the Supreme Court, challenging the Court of Appeal’s decision and seeking a stay of the status quo order.
Rather than hearing pending motions, the Supreme Court ordered parties to file briefs. After hearing arguments on Wednesday, Justice Garba Mohammed announced that judgment has been reserved to a date to be communicated to the parties.
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