The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the legal battle over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a case expected to determine the party’s legitimate leadership structure ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The apex court took arguments on Wednesday in the suit marked SC/CV/180/2026, which pits a faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark against another led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, deepening uncertainty within the opposition party as political realignments intensify ahead of the next election cycle.
The case is part of a broader judicial push by the Supreme Court to fast-track leadership disputes affecting major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and ADC, in line with timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for preparations toward the 2027 polls.
Also present during Wednesday’s proceedings was the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
At the centre of the dispute is whether the court should uphold or overturn earlier rulings that challenged Mark’s leadership position, including decisions that reportedly led INEC to remove officials linked to his faction from its official records.
The crisis has lingered for weeks, creating tension within the party and raising concerns over the ADC’s internal stability at a time when opposition alliances are being closely watched.
The uncertainty was heightened after a planned national convention organised by the Bala-led faction in Abuja reportedly collapsed, with the venue left empty and no delegates or party officials showing up—an incident that raised fresh questions about the faction’s strength and legitimacy.
Counsel to the party, Chief Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), had earlier confirmed that the apex court granted accelerated hearing on the matter and directed all parties to file their briefs within strict timelines.
According to him, the appeal filed by Mark is seeking several reliefs, including a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal judgment and an order restraining INEC from acting on it pending the final determination of the case.
“Well, the issue before the court fundamentally is whether this is a matter the court can even adjudicate on,” Okutepa said, pointing to the constitutional issues surrounding party leadership and judicial intervention.
Despite the significance of the case, the senior advocate declined further comments, insisting that the matter remains strictly before the court.
With judgment now reserved, party members and political observers are anxiously awaiting what could become a defining decision for the ADC’s future and its role in the build-up to the 2027 general elections.
