The Supreme Court has directed former Senate President David Mark and other parties in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership tussle to return to the Federal High Court for the determination of the case.
The apex court, in a judgment delivered Thursday, voided the “status quo ante bellum” order earlier issued by the Court of Appeal on March 12, 2026.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, was filed by Mark challenging the appellate court’s decision, which ordered parties to maintain the status quo in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe and other aggrieved ADC members.
Mark argued that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of a political party, which courts lack jurisdiction to intervene in. f40e
Following the Court of Appeal’s ruling, INEC had on April 1 removed Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, stating it would not recognise any faction until the legal dispute is resolved.
The Supreme Court’s latest decision effectively sets aside that order and directs that the substantive suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, should proceed to hearing. 1e88
The leadership crisis pits Mark’s faction against Nafiu Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman who declared himself acting national chairman after Ralph Nwosu stepped down.
The Mark-led faction had earlier written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria seeking timely delivery of the judgment, warning that delay could exclude the ADC from the 2027 General Election.
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