The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has written the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun appealing for a quick delivery of judgment in the leadership tussle of the party at the National Level.
The ADC said that it will suffer irreparable harm if judgment in the protracted dispute is not delivered by the apex court within the period allowed by the Electoral Act to enable it field candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The ADC in a ‘Save-Our-Soul’ letter addressed to the CJN which was signed by its lead Counsel, Shuaibu Enejoh Aruwa, SAN, specifically said that it would have no role to play in the 2027 general elections except and unless the pending judgment of the Supreme Court is delivered within three days starting from Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
The Supreme Court five-member panel led by Justice Garba Mohammed had on April 22, 2026, reserved judgment in the ADC leadership crisis to a date to be communicated to parties, shortly after lawyers representing parties adopted their briefs of argument for and against the appeal.
But, sensing dangers in any further delay in the judgment, the ADC raised a deep concern that it would not be able to participate in the forthcoming general elections.
The letter dated April 28, and titled; “RE: SUIT NO: 8SC/CV/180/2026: SENATOR DAVID MARK V HON. NAFIU BALA GOMBE & 4 ORS, A PASSIONATE PLEA FOR THE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE JUDGMENT IN THE ABOVE MENTIONED APPEAL TO FORESTALL THE IMPENDING IRREPARABLE HARM TO CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF AFRICAN DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS (ADC) TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 2027 GENERAL ELECTIONS,” was received and stamped by the Office of the CJN.
The letter read in part; “We are Counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2:4 Respondent in the above mentioned Appeal. My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22 April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.
“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 in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 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.
“My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.
“Your Lordship’s would find attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognizing the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC 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.
“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.
“My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court. We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied.
“The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.
“We thank Your Lordships as we look forward for Your Lordships kind intervention,” it stated.
At the April 22 hearing of the case, Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, who represented David Mark had urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal as he submitted that the apex court had in a judgment on March 21, 2025 put an end to the issue before the court when it held that “no court has jurisdiction to entertain cases bordering on internal affairs of political parties”.
Accordingly, Okutepa urged the Supreme Court to hold that the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja lacked the jurisdiction to entertain a suit bordering on the ADC’s internal affairs.
But, Robert Emukpero, SAN, counsel to the 1st Respondent, Nafiu Bala, urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal and affirm the judgment of the lower court which held that the case of the appellant was premature and dismissed it.
The Appeal Court had subsequently ordered that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for expeditious hearing, and directed parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.
Following the order for status quo ante bellum, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) delisted Senator David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its website as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, pending the resolution of the matter by the court.
