A decisive legal battle over the soul of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) reaches a boiling point tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14, 2026 as Nigeria’s apex court prepares to hear an appeal filed by embattled party chairman, David Mark.
The former Senate President is seeking to halt the enforcement of a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which has already triggered a leadership crisis within the party and prompted the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to strip him and Rauf Aregbesola of their positions on its official records.
The Supreme Court, in a hearing notice for appeal number SC/CV/180/2026, confirmed that the high-stakes case between Mark and Nafiu-Bala Gombe, alongside four other respondents, will be heard tomorrow April 14, 2026.
In a dramatic twist, the apex court hearing coincides with proceedings scheduled the same day before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja. However, indications are that the lower court may step aside in deference to the Supreme Court’s authority.
At the heart of the dispute is a fierce contest for control of the ADC’s national leadership. Mark, through his lawyer Realwan Okpanachi, is asking the Supreme Court to freeze the implementation of the appellate court’s ruling pending the determination of his appeal.
He is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership outside his camp and to prevent any tampering with the party’s current structure until the legal dust settles.
Mark further wants all proceedings in the ongoing suit before the Federal High Court suspended, arguing that allowing parallel actions could undermine the authority of the apex court.
The legal offensive follows INEC’s controversial decision on April 1 to remove Mark and Aregbesola from its portal, an action widely interpreted as enforcement of the Appeal Court’s ruling.
But Mark’s camp insists that move is premature and dangerous. His lawyer warned that unless the Supreme Court intervenes, the judgment could be effectively executed, rendering the appeal useless.
“The actions of the 1st respondent amount to an attempted enforcement of the Court of Appeal judgment,” Okpanachi argued, accusing Gombe of actively pushing INEC to sideline the Mark-led leadership.
The dispute traces back to a suit filed by Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC, who is challenging the legitimacy of Mark and Aregbesola’s emergence as party leaders. He claims their appointments violated both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Although the Federal High Court initially refused to grant an ex-parte order to halt Mark’s leadership, the Court of Appeal later intervened, ordering parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum while directing the matter back to the lower court.
That directive has since become a weapon in the escalating power struggle, with both camps interpreting it to their advantage.
With the Supreme Court now stepping in, Tuesday’s hearing is set to determine not just the fate of Mark’s chairmanship, but the direction and stability of the ADC itself.
What unfolds in court could either restore Mark’s grip on the party—or окончательно dismantle it.
• Source : NAN
Facebook Comments
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings