The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by former Senate President David Mark over leadership disputes within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba concluded hearing arguments on Tuesday and set a future date for the ruling. The appeal, tagged SC/CV/180/2026, challenges a March 12, 2026, Court of Appeal decision that dismissed Mark's challenge and directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. Mark, through his counsel Senior Advocate of Nigeria Jubril Okutepa, argued that the appellate court overstepped its jurisdiction by interfering in what he described as internal party matters. He maintained that leadership disputes in political parties are not justiciable and urged the Supreme Court to set aside the ruling.
Mark also sought an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising any leadership outside his faction pending the determination of the appeal. He further requested that INEC be stopped from altering the party's leadership structure and that proceedings in a related suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja be stayed. Respondents in the case include Nafiu Bala, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and Ralph Nwosu. While INEC filed no process in the matter, other respondents urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal. The dispute stems from a September 4, 2025, ruling by Federal High Court Judge Emeka Nwite, which granted an interim order in favour of Bala, who claims he should have assumed leadership after Nwosu's exit. On April 1, 2026, INEC announced it would no longer recognise either the Mark or Bala faction following its review of the Court of Appeal's judgment. In response, the Mark-led faction filed a motion seeking court compulsion for INEC to reinstate its recognition. Proceedings at the Federal High Court have since been indefinitely adjourned due to the pending Supreme Court appeal.
David Mark is challenging court jurisdiction over party leadership while simultaneously asking that same court to force INEC to recognise his faction. If internal party matters are truly beyond judicial reach, then seeking judicial intervention to compel recognition undermines his own legal stance. This contradiction leaves ADC members caught between competing claims with no clear path to resolution. The uncertainty directly affects how party members can legally organise or participate in political activities.
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