THE African Democratic Congress has formally appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging the Supreme Court to deliver a prompt ruling in the party’s lingering leadership dispute.
News Point Nigeria reports that the request was conveyed in a letter dated April 28 and signed by the party’s legal counsel, Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), on behalf of the faction led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The party warned that any further delay in the judgment could threaten its chances of participating in the 2027 general elections.
The appeal follows the Supreme Court’s hearing of the leadership crisis on April 22, after which judgment was reserved without a specific date being fixed.
The case was heard by a five-member panel of the apex court led by Justice Mohammed Garba, which entertained arguments in separate appeals challenging earlier rulings by lower courts.
Meanwhile, developments within the electoral space have heightened the urgency of the matter. The Independent National Electoral Commission has already fixed May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers, alongside a detailed timetable for the 2027 general elections.
According to INEC, the Presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly polls will hold on February 6, 2027.
The commission also outlined that party primaries and resolution of disputes will take place between April 23, 2026 and May 30, 2026, with campaigns set to commence on August 19, 2026 for national elections and September 9, 2026 for state elections.
In the letter referencing Suit No. SC/CV/180/2026, the ADC’s legal team stressed that the delay in judgment could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s political future.
“We are counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2nd Respondent in the above-mentioned Appeal,” the letter read in part.
“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.
“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 party further drew the attention of the Chief Justice to INEC’s actions and the electoral timetable, attaching relevant documents, including the commission’s press release de-recognising its leadership.
“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.
According to the legal team, the party’s ability to meet statutory requirements for participation in the elections hinges entirely on the timely delivery of the Supreme Court judgment.
“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. T
“his 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,” the letter stated.
While acknowledging the heavy workload of the apex court, the party insisted that the peculiar circumstances of the case demand urgent attention.
“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 hang in the balance,” the letter concluded.