RismadarVoice Reporters, MAY 1, 2026
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has restored the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, while nullifying an earlier order that directed parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum” in the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
The apex court delivered the ruling after hearing arguments in an appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026, brought before it by Mark and his faction, who are challenging earlier decisions of the Court of Appeal and Federal High Court in Abuja regarding the party’s leadership structure.
A five-member panel, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had earlier reserved judgment after both parties adopted their final written addresses. The dispute centres on competing claims to the national leadership of the ADC, particularly between the Mark-led faction and another group led by Nafiu Bala Gombe.
In its decision, the Supreme Court held that the lower court’s directive maintaining the status quo in the party’s leadership tussle was inappropriate under the circumstances of the case, effectively voiding the order that had frozen changes within the party’s structure.
The court’s ruling is seen as a significant development in the prolonged internal crisis that has divided the ADC, with both factions previously claiming legitimacy and recognition from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The leadership dispute escalated after a Federal High Court ruling in 2025 triggered a series of appeals, culminating in the Supreme Court’s intervention. At the heart of the matter is whether courts should intervene in what one side describes as internal party affairs, or whether judicial oversight is required to prevent constitutional breaches within political parties.
Reacting to earlier proceedings in the case, counsel to the Mark-led faction had argued that the Court of Appeal exceeded its jurisdiction when it ordered parties to maintain the status quo, while opposing counsel insisted the directive was necessary to preserve order pending final determination.
The latest ruling is expected to reshape the balance of power within the ADC, though full implications will depend on the detailed judgment and subsequent actions by INEC and party stakeholders.
Further details of the Supreme Court’s reasoning are expected to be released in the certified judgment.
