Five-man panel defers ruling as battle between rival factions deepens, leaving party in limbo ahead of 2027 elections

Nigeria’s Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the high-stakes leadership dispute rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC), following an appeal filed by former Senate President and party chairman, David Mark.

A five-member panel of justices, led by Justice Lawal Garba, announced that a ruling date would be communicated to all parties after counsel adopted their final written arguments for and against the appeal.

Mark is challenging a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier appeal and upheld objections raised by Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party. Bala had argued that Mark’s appeal was incompetent and raised issues not contained in the original ruling of the trial court.

The dispute traces back to a September 4, 2025 decision of the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Emeka Nwite declined to grant injunctive reliefs sought in an ex-parte application filed by Bala. Dissatisfied, Mark pursued the matter to the appellate courts, seeking to halt the enforcement of the Appeal Court’s ruling.

At the heart of the legal tussle is a deepening leadership crisis that has fractured the ADC and stripped it of a recognised national leadership. What began as an internal transition disagreement in mid-2025 has since escalated into a full-blown legal and institutional battle involving the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

INEC, on April 1, withdrew recognition from both the Mark- and Bala-led factions, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal order to maintain the status quo. The electoral body has since refused to engage either camp pending a final judicial resolution—effectively paralysing the party’s official operations.

The standoff has triggered growing concerns over the ADC’s viability as an opposition force ahead of the 2027 general elections.

While the Mark-led faction insists it emerged through due process—pointing to National Executive Committee (NEC) resolutions, including the July 29, 2025 ratification of a caretaker leadership—it maintains that its actions are backed by provisions of the party’s constitution.

Citing Articles 13, 17(3), and 17(4), the faction argues that the NEC has the authority to administer party affairs, implement convention decisions, and fill leadership vacancies. It also contends that eligibility requirements, including the two-year membership rule, were lawfully waived to support coalition-building efforts.

The group further leans on its initial recognition by INEC in September 2025, as well as its conduct of congresses and the April 14 national convention, as proof of legitimacy.

With the Supreme Court’s decision now pending, the future leadership of the ADC—and its readiness for the 2027 electoral cycle—hangs in the balance.