The leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), headed by David Mark, has formally appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to expedite judgment in its ongoing leadership dispute, warning that delays could jeopardize the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated April 28 and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, the party stressed that failure to deliver judgment within the statutory timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) could cause “irreparable harm” to its constitutional rights.
The apex court had, on April 22, reserved judgment in the appeal after hearing arguments from all parties involved in the dispute. The case, which centers on the party’s national leadership tussle, is yet to be assigned a definitive judgment date.
In the “save-our-soul” letter signed by the ADC’s lead counsel, Shuaibu Enejoh Aruwa (SAN), the party warned that it risks being excluded from the 2027 elections if the judgment is not delivered within three days.
According to the party, INEC has already acted on a lower court ruling to withdraw recognition of its current leadership, effectively leaving it without a valid structure to meet electoral requirements.
The letter emphasized that compliance with INEC’s timetable is contingent on the resolution of the leadership dispute, noting that any further delay could prevent the party from fielding candidates.
Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days… the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections,” the letter stated.
The party further argued that such an outcome would disenfranchise millions of its supporters and deny them the constitutional right to political participation.
At the April 22 hearing, counsel to Mark, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), urged the court to allow the appeal, arguing that courts lack jurisdiction over internal party matters. He referenced a prior Supreme Court ruling affirming that disputes within political parties are generally non-justiciable.
However, counsel to the first respondent, Robert Emukpero, asked the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the decision of the lower court, which found the case premature.
The controversy stems from earlier rulings by both the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. The appellate court had dismissed Mark’s challenge and directed that the matter return to the trial court for substantive hearing, while also ordering parties to maintain the status quo.
Following that directive, INEC moved to de-recognise the Mark-led leadership pending judicial resolution, prompting the appeal to the Supreme Court.
With the 2027 electoral timetable already underway, the ADC insists that only a prompt judicial decision can restore clarity and enable it to participate fully in the democratic process.
The Supreme Court is yet to announce a date for the delivery of its judgment.
