Nigeria’s apex court has restored the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, while directing that the dispute return to the lower court for full hearing.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reinstated former Senate President David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), delivering a significant ruling in the party’s ongoing leadership crisis.
In a unanimous decision by a five-member panel, the apex court set aside an earlier ruling by the Court of Appeal which had ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the dispute. The Supreme Court held that the appellate court’s directive was “unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” effectively restoring the Mark-led leadership.
The ruling followed an appeal filed by Mark challenging the legality of the Appeal Court’s order, which had led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of all factions within the party.
By overturning that directive, the Supreme Court affirmed Mark’s leadership pending the resolution of the substantive case. However, the court clarified that its decision is not final on the broader dispute, ordering that the matter return to the Federal High Court for continuation and determination on its merits.
The leadership crisis within the ADC stems from competing claims between factions within the party, with aggrieved members challenging the legitimacy of the Mark-led executive.
The dispute had intensified after INEC, acting on the Appeal Court ruling, removed Mark and other party officials from its records, leaving the party without a formally recognised leadership at a critical time ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court’s intervention is seen as a temporary resolution that restores leadership clarity while legal proceedings continue.
Attention now shifts back to the Federal High Court, where the substantive case will determine the final outcome of the ADC leadership tussle.