The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in a high-stakes legal dispute 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 heard arguments on Wednesday in the suit marked SC/CV/180/2026, which involves a faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark and another led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, further deepening uncertainty within the opposition party as political realignments gather momentum.
The matter forms part of a broader effort by the Supreme Court to fast-track leadership disputes affecting major political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party, Labour Party, and the ADC, in line with timelines established by the Independent National Electoral Commission for preparations toward the 2027 elections.
Also present during the proceedings was the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi.
At the centre of the dispute is whether the apex court will uphold or overturn earlier rulings that challenged the leadership position of Mark, including decisions that reportedly led INEC to remove officials linked to his faction from its official records.
The leadership crisis has persisted for several weeks, generating tension within the party and raising concerns about the ADC’s internal stability at a time when opposition alliances are under close scrutiny.
The situation was further complicated after a planned national convention organised by the Bala-led faction in Abuja reportedly failed to hold, with the venue left deserted and no delegates or party officials in attendance—an incident that has triggered fresh questions over the faction’s strength and legitimacy.
Counsel to the party, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), had earlier confirmed that the court granted accelerated hearing on the matter and directed all parties to file their briefs within strict timelines.
He explained that the appeal filed by Mark is seeking multiple 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 constitutional questions surrounding party leadership and the extent of judicial intervention.
Despite the significance of the case, the senior advocate declined further comments, noting that the matter remains before the court.
With judgment now reserved, members of the party and political watchers are awaiting what could prove to be a decisive ruling on the ADC’s leadership and its positioning ahead of the 2027 general elections.
