The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, April 30, 2026, for judgment in the leadership crisis rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), a case widely seen as crucial to the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The apex court is expected to deliver its verdict by 2:00 p.m., following weeks of legal uncertainty that prompted the party to formally petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), warning that further delay could jeopardize its electoral future.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier reserved judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses in the matter.
At the center of the dispute is former Senate President Senator David Mark, who leads one faction of the ADC and is challenging the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the leadership tussle.
Mark, in his appeal, argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction, insisting that the dispute is an internal party matter that should not be subjected to judicial interference.
The case was originally filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who questioned the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership structure within the party.
Other respondents in the appeal include the ADC, its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognizing any leadership of the party outside his faction pending the final determination of the appeal.
However, the respondents urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court acted within its constitutional powers.
Amid growing concerns over the implications of the legal battle, the Mark-led faction had, in a letter dated April 28, 2026, appealed directly to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, warning that failure to deliver judgment within three days could leave the party excluded from the 2027 elections.
The letter, signed by ADC counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, stated that the party’s leadership had already been de-recognized by INEC following the lower court’s ruling, leaving the ADC in a precarious position.
“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court,” the letter read.
“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC, the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal, purportedly acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court… acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria.”
The faction further argued that the delay was threatening the party’s ability to comply with INEC’s timetable for the 2027 general elections.
“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.
“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.”
It added that such a development would amount to the disenfranchisement of millions of party supporters nationwide.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
The letter concluded with a strong appeal to the apex court, stressing that justice delayed in the matter could amount to justice denied.
“The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.”
Thursday’s judgment is now expected to determine not only the immediate leadership structure of the ADC but also the party’s political survival ahead of the 2027 general elections.
