The Supreme Court of Nigeria will on Tuesday hear an appeal filed by former Senate President David Mark over the ongoing leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), as he seeks to stop the enforcement of a recent appellate court judgment.
The hearing, scheduled for April 14 in Abuja, follows Mark’s challenge against the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal. The case, which involves Nafiu-Bala Gombe and other parties including Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Ralph Nwosu, is part of a wider dispute over the party’s national leadership.
Mark, through his lawyer, asked the apex court to suspend the execution of the Appeal Court’s decision until his appeal is fully decided. He also requested that INEC should not recognise any other leadership outside his team while the matter is still in court. In addition, he asked the court to stop any changes to the party’s leadership structure and to pause ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja until the Supreme Court settles the issue.
The appeal stems from a legal battle that began after disagreements within the party over leadership positions. The Court of Appeal had earlier ordered all parties to maintain the situation as it was before the dispute, but there have been actions suggesting attempts to enforce the ruling.
INEC had already removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official records as national chairman and secretary of the party, following the appellate judgment. This move led Mark to approach the Federal High Court, seeking an order to restore their names and fast-track the hearing of the case.
The case at the lower court was filed by Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party, who challenged the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders, arguing that it did not follow the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act. Although an earlier request to immediately stop them was declined, the matter has continued through different courts.
With both the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court scheduled to sit on the same day, proceedings at the lower court may be delayed in line with legal procedure, as attention shifts to the apex court’s decision on the appeal.