The Supreme Court has set aside a Court of Appeal ruling that ordered the ADC to maintain its previous leadership state, directing the feuding factions back to the Federal High Court for a final resolution.
ABUJA – The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed a controversial Court of Appeal order that required the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to maintain a “status quo ante bellum” in its ongoing leadership crisis. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the apex court ruled that while the appellate court was correct to refer the matter back to the Federal High Court, it overstepped its bounds by issuing preservative orders on its own volition.
Justice Mohammed Garba, delivering the lead judgment, faulted the lower court for raising the issue of the status quo *suo motu* (on its own motion), noting that no party in the matter had requested such an order. The apex court held that it was “unnecessary, unwarranted, and improper” for the appellate court to issue directives in a case that was still pending before a trial court.
The leadership dispute within the ADC began in mid-2025 as an internal transition disagreement. The party eventually fractured into two main camps: one led by a former Senate President and another led by a factional head identified as Bala.
The legal battle intensified following a September 2025 ruling by Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, which refused to grant injunctive reliefs sought by the Bala-led group. This led to a series of appeals, culminating in a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal that dismissed the former Senate President’s appeal as incompetent, yet simultaneously ordered a return to the “status quo” that existed before the conflict.
Addressing a challenge to its own authority, the Supreme Court affirmed its jurisdiction to hear the appeal. Citing Section 233 of the 1999 Constitution, the court clarified that the apex court possesses the definitive legal power to entertain appeals arising from lower court decisions, even in internal party matters that have reached a judicial impasse.
The ruling comes at a critical time for the ADC, which has been left in a leadership vacuum. On April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition from both factions, specifically citing the now-quashed Court of Appeal order. This withdrawal of official recognition has raised significant concerns regarding the party’s ability to operate as a viable opposition platform ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The faction led by the former Senate President maintains its legitimacy based on National Executive Committee (NEC) decisions made in 2025, including the ratification of a caretaker leadership under Article 13 of the ADC constitution. They argue that vacancies were filled lawfully and that membership eligibility requirements were waived to facilitate coalition-building.
With the Supreme Court setting aside the “status quo” mandate, the legal battle now returns to the Federal High Court. The outcome of this trial will determine the officially recognized leadership structure and dictate whether the ADC can move forward as a unified entity for the upcoming electoral cycle.
Visit GMTNewsng for more news stories.
