The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in the ADC leadership dispute involving David Mark and Nafiu Bala, a case that could shape the party’s future ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by David Mark, National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), against Nafiu Bala, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party.
Justice Lawal Garba, who led a five-member panel of justices, announced that judgment had been reserved after lawyers representing all parties adopted their legal briefs and arguments.
He stated that a date for the ruling would be communicated to all parties involved in the appeal.
Mark, a former Senate President, had asked the apex court to grant an order staying the execution of the Court of Appeal ruling delivered on March 12, which dismissed his earlier appeal over the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
The appellate court panel, led by Justice Uchechukwu Onyemenam, upheld objections raised by Bala, who argued that Mark’s appeal was incompetent and based on issues not contained in the ruling of the trial court.
The dispute stems from a September 4, 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declined to grant some injunctive reliefs sought in an ex-parte application filed by Bala.
The prolonged ADC leadership crisis has left the party without a formally recognised national leadership.
What began as an internal transition disagreement in mid-2025 has since escalated into a legal battle involving the courts and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), raising concerns over the party’s readiness for the 2027 general elections.
On April 1, INEC withdrew recognition from both the Mark-led and Bala-led factions, citing a subsisting Court of Appeal order directing parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
The electoral commission said it would not engage with either faction until a final judicial determination is made.
The Mark faction insists it emerged through due process, relying on National Executive Committee (NEC) decisions taken in 2025, including the July 29 ratification of a caretaker leadership.
It argues that Article 13 of the ADC constitution empowers the NEC to administer the party, implement convention decisions, and create interim leadership structures where necessary.
The group also cited Articles 17(3) and 17(4), maintaining that vacancies were legally filled through internal executive mechanisms.
On eligibility issues, the faction said membership requirements, including the two-year rule under Article 9(4), were waived through NEC resolutions in 2025 to support coalition-building efforts.
It further argued that its recognition by INEC in September 2025, alongside the conduct of congresses and the April 14 National Convention, supports its claim to legitimacy.
The Supreme Court judgment is expected to be critical in determining the future leadership and political direction of the ADC ahead of the next electoral cycle.
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