Supreme Court set to decide David Mark ADC leadership battle Tuesday

By Taiye Agbaje

The Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, challenging the judgment of the Court of Appeal in the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The apex court fixed April 14 for the hearing of the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026, in a dispute involving Mark and four others, including Nafiu-Bala Gombe, the party, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Mark, who is contesting his removal as ADC National Chairman, is seeking an order to stay the execution of the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal pending the determination of his appeal.

In the motion filed by his lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, Mark also asked the Supreme Court to restrain INEC from recognising any individual other than himself and the current national officers of the party, pending the resolution of the dispute.

He further urged the court to halt any action that could alter the existing leadership structure of the party, as well as suspend proceedings in a related suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The legal tussle stems from a dispute initiated by Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national chairman and secretary, arguing that their appointments violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

Although the Federal High Court had earlier declined to grant an ex-parte order to stop the Mark-led leadership, the Court of Appeal later directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, a development Gombe has relied upon to press INEC to withdraw recognition of Mark’s leadership.

Following the appellate court’s decision, INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal on April 1, intensifying the leadership crisis within the party.

In response, Mark approached the Federal High Court seeking an order compelling the electoral body to restore their names, with the matter also slated for hearing on April 14.

However, the Supreme Court hearing is expected to take precedence, as legal experts suggest the lower court may adjourn its proceedings pending the outcome at the apex court, in line with the hierarchy of courts.

Mark’s legal team argued that unless the stay of execution is granted, the Court of Appeal judgment could be enforced, thereby rendering the appeal nugatory.