KEY POINTS
- The Supreme Court of Nigeria will rule on the ADC leadership dispute involving David Mark.
- Mark is challenging a Court of Appeal ruling, arguing party leadership issues should not be decided by courts.
- The court will also decide on appeals concerning the Peoples Democratic Party convention held in Ibadan.
Nigeria’s highest court, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has fixed Thursday, April 30, 2026, to deliver judgment in a crucial legal battle surrounding the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
The case, brought before the court by former Senate President David Mark, is expected to determine the legitimacy of rival factions within the party and could shape the future of its internal structure.
Court records show that all parties involved have been duly notified, with proceedings scheduled to commence at 2 p.m.
At the centre of the dispute is an appeal filed by David Mark, who is leading one faction of the ADC. He is contesting a March 12 decision by the Court of Appeal which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, effectively preserving the existing leadership arrangement until the matter is resolved.
Through his lawyer, Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jubril Okutepa, Mark argues that the appellate court exceeded its authority by interfering in what he insists is an internal party matter. He maintains that disputes over party leadership are non-justiciable and should not be subject to judicial determination, urging the Supreme Court to overturn the ruling.
Key Parties and Legal Demands
The case involves several prominent figures and institutions, including Nafiu Bala, a rival factional chairman; Rauf Aregbesola; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and former ADC national chairman Ralph Nwosu.
In his appeal, Mark is asking the court to restrain INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction while the case is being determined.
He is also seeking an order to prevent the electoral body from making changes to the party’s leadership structure, as well as a directive to halt proceedings in a related suit currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja. While INEC has not taken a position on the matter, other respondents have urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
The Supreme Court had earlier constituted a five-member panel to hear the case, and after listening to arguments from all sides on April 22, 2026, the justices reserved judgment.
The ruling, now scheduled for delivery, is widely anticipated as it could have far-reaching implications not only for the ADC but also for the broader question of how far the judiciary can go in resolving disputes within political parties.
Beyond the ADC leadership tussle, the apex court is also set to deliver judgment in three separate appeals relating to the legitimacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan on November 15 and 16, 2025.
These appeals challenge both the conduct and the outcomes of the convention, making the court’s decision crucial to resolving internal disagreements within the PDP and determining the validity of its current leadership structure.
