THE Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, April 30, for judgment in the leadership dispute rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC), bringing to a climax a legal battle that has raised fears over the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
News Point Nigeria reports that the apex court had earlier reserved judgment in the matter after hearing arguments from parties involved in the suit, a development that prompted the opposition party to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), warning that time was no longer on its side.
However, on Wednesday, the Supreme Court announced that judgment in the case would be delivered by 2pm on Thursday.
A five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Garba had fixed the matter for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses.
The appeal was filed by a faction of the party led by former Senate President David Mark, who is challenging the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal which directed parties to maintain the status quo in the lingering leadership dispute.
In his appeal, Mark argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction, insisting that the crisis bordered on the internal affairs of a political party, an area courts traditionally lack powers to adjudicate upon.
The suit was originally initiated by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
Other respondents listed in the appeal include the African Democratic Congress, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a former National Chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership of the party outside his faction pending the final determination of the appeal.
The respondents, however, urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court was properly seized of the matter and acted within its jurisdiction.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026 and signed by ADC counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the Mark-led faction warned that failure by the Supreme Court to deliver judgment within three days could have grave consequences for the party ahead of the 2027 elections.
According to the letter, the ADC “stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Election” if the judgment is not delivered urgently.
The faction argued that such a development would deny millions of Nigerians the constitutional right to contest elections under the platform of the party.
“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court,” the letter stated.
“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.”
The letter further drew the attention of the Chief Justice to the timetable already released by INEC for activities ahead of the 2027 general elections.
“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,” the letter added
“Your Lordship 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.”
The Mark-led faction stressed that the party’s ability to comply with statutory requirements necessary for participation in the 2027 elections depended entirely on the timely delivery of judgment by the apex court.
“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.”
The faction warned that any delay could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who identify with the party and wish to contest elections on its platform.
“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.”
While acknowledging the workload of the apex court, the faction maintained that justice delayed in the peculiar circumstances of the case could amount to justice denied.
“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,” the letter stated.