The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in the appeal filed by David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in the ongoing leadership dispute with Nafiu Bala, former Deputy National Chairman.
- +ADC leadership crisis deepens as Supreme Court reserves judgment
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, announced the decision after counsel representing all parties adopted their written arguments and addressed the court on the merits of the appeal.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Lawal Garba, announced the decision after counsel representing all parties adopted their written arguments and addressed the court on the merits of the appeal.
Justice Garba stated that the date for judgment would be communicated to parties in due course.
The former Senate President is seeking to overturn the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal challenging earlier decisions in the protracted leadership tussle within the opposition party.
The appellate court, in a split decision delivered by a three-member panel headed by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, had upheld a preliminary objection by Bala, ruling that Mark’s appeal was incompetent as it raised issues not derived from the judgment of the trial court.
The case stems from a September 4, 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Emeka Nwite, which declined to grant interim injunctive reliefs sought by Bala in an ex-parte application.
The dispute has effectively paralysed the ADC’s national leadership structure, leaving the party without a clearly recognised national executive.
What began as an internal disagreement over leadership transition in mid-2025 has since escalated into a full-blown legal and institutional crisis, drawing in both the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with implications for the party’s preparedness ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a move that further complicated the situation, INEC on April 1 withdrew recognition from both the Mark- and Bala-led factions, citing an existing Court of Appeal order maintaining the status quo ante bellum. The commission has since declined to engage with either faction pending final judicial resolution.
Despite the uncertainty, the Mark-led faction maintains it emerged through valid internal processes, citing resolutions of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) in 2025, including the July 29 approval of a caretaker leadership structure.
The group relies on provisions of Article 13 of the ADC constitution, which vests the NEC with authority to administer the party, implement convention decisions, and establish interim arrangements where necessary.
It also references Articles 17(3) and 17(4) to justify the leadership transition process, arguing that vacancies were properly filled through established party mechanisms.
On eligibility requirements, the faction maintains that the two-year membership rule under Article 9(4) was validly waived through NEC resolutions to accommodate coalition arrangements.
It further argues that its earlier recognition by INEC in September 2025, alongside the conduct of party congresses and its National Convention held on April 14, reinforces its claim to legitimacy.
