The Supreme Court on Thursday, April 30, 2026, affirmed the leadership of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
This followed the setting aside of an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division which granted “Status quo ante Bellum”.
The apex court in a unanimous judgment by five-member panel outrightly nullified the “status quo ante bellum” order issued by the Court of Appeal in the protracted leadership dispute within the ADC.
The Supreme Court panel of Justices led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, held that the order by the Court of Appeal was unnecessary and procedurally flawed.
The Supreme Court judgement effectively restores the leadership of David Mark-led National Working Committee, thus reversed moves by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to delist the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its website and refusal to accord it recognition.
The apex court particularly faulted the appeal filed on jurisdictional grounds, and held that it arose from an ex parte order inviting parties to show cause, without first obtaining the required leave of the appellate court.
The crisis within the party has lingered for months, with rival factions contesting control of its structures and legitimacy of its leadership.
The Supreme Court’s latest intervention is expected to reopen proceedings at the lower court, setting the stage for a substantive determination of the leadership tussle within the party.
The ruling favoured David Mark, whose appeal succeeded in part, as the apex court, however dismissed his challenge to an earlier ex parte order of the Federal High Court concerning service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved ADC members.
The Supreme Court ordered all factions in the ADC leadership tussle to return to the Federal High Court for continuation of proceedings, effectively restarting the legal battle.
The judgement however, nullified the Court of Appeal’s post-dismissal orders and directed the trial court to determine the leadership question on its merits.
With the Supreme Court’s ruling, proceedings is now expected to resume at the lower court for a substantive determination of the leadership tussle of the party.
The ADC had consistently accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of orchestrating the internal crisis in the party, insisting that the crisis was being fuelled from outside to weaken opposition forces ahead of 2027 elections.
With the Supreme Court’s decision, attention is expected to shift to how the party will consolidate on its structures and move the party forward.
