The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in a high-stakes case to determine the legitimate leadership of the African Democratic Congress, or ADC, as the 2027 general elections draw closer.
At the heart of the dispute is case SC/CV/180/2026, which pits a faction loyal to former Senate President David Mark against a rival group led by Nafiu Bala Gombe. The outcome will shape the party’s direction during a period of expected political realignments.
The apex court heard arguments on Wednesday. The proceedings were part of an accelerated schedule the court adopted for party leadership disputes, in line with timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission for electoral preparations. Other parties affected include the Peoples Democratic Party and Labour Party. 
Also present at the hearing was ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi. His attendance underscored the significance of the case to the party’s national structure.
The legal battle centers on whether the Supreme Court will uphold or overturn earlier rulings that cast doubt on Mark’s leadership. Those decisions previously prompted INEC to remove officials aligned with his faction from its official records.
Tension within the ADC has been building for weeks. SaharaReporters earlier noted that a national convention planned by the Bala-led faction in Abuja failed to take off, with the venue remaining empty and no delegates or party officials in attendance.
That collapsed convention has fueled questions about the faction’s organisational strength and its claim to legitimacy within the party.
Jibrin Okutepa, SAN, counsel to the party, confirmed the apex court had granted accelerated hearing on the matter. He said parties were directed to file briefs within strict timelines to keep the case on track.
According to Okutepa, Mark’s appeal seeks several reliefs. These include a stay of execution of the Court of Appeal judgment and an order restraining INEC from acting on that judgment until the Supreme Court delivers a final determination.
Okutepa noted that a key issue before the court is jurisdictional. He said the fundamental question is whether this is a matter the court can even adjudicate on, pointing to constitutional questions embedded in the dispute. He declined further comment, citing judicial consideration.
For now, no ruling has been delivered. With proceedings still ongoing, uncertainty continues to trail the ADC’s leadership. Party members and political observers are watching closely for a judgment that could define the party’s future before 2027.
