Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled April 14 for the hearing of a high-stakes appeal filed by former Senate President and African Democratic Congress (ADC) national chairman, David Mark, in a continuing leadership dispute within the party involving former deputy national chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The appeal, registered as SC/CV/180/2026, is one of the latest legal steps in a prolonged internal crisis over control of the ADC’s national leadership structure. Mark is asking the apex court to suspend the enforcement of a Court of Appeal judgment delivered on March 12, which had earlier ruled against his faction in the party leadership tussle.
The case stems from a suit initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC, who challenged the emergence and recognition of David Mark and former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as part of the party’s national leadership. Gombe had argued that their positions were inconsistent with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral regulations, and he sought judicial intervention to restrain them from acting as national officers of the party.
In response, Mark and his legal team approached the Federal High Court in Abuja, but the matter escalated to the Court of Appeal, which on March 12 dismissed Mark’s case and ordered that parties maintain the status quo pending resolution of the substantive issues. The appellate court’s ruling effectively strengthened Gombe’s position and triggered further legal and administrative actions within the Independent National Electoral Commission.
Following the judgment, the Independent National Electoral Commission subsequently removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official records as national chairman and national secretary of the ADC, a move that further deepened the dispute over legitimate party leadership and intensified internal tensions within the opposition party structure.
Mark, through his counsel Realwan Okpanachi, is now asking the Supreme Court to stay execution of the appellate judgment, arguing that allowing it to stand would render the appeal meaningless. He is also seeking an order restraining INEC from taking further steps based on the Court of Appeal decision, particularly in relation to recognition of party leadership, until the final determination of the case.
Court filings indicate that Mark has raised multiple grounds of appeal, insisting that the Court of Appeal erred in its judgment and that substantial questions of law remain unresolved. His legal team maintains that the dispute involves internal party affairs, which they argue should not be interfered with by external enforcement actions until judicial processes are fully concluded.
The Supreme Court’s scheduled hearing comes at a time when parallel proceedings related to the same dispute are also pending before the Federal High Court in Abuja under Justice Emeka Nwite. That court is separately handling motions connected to Nafiu Bala Gombe’s substantive claims against the ADC leadership structure. Legal observers note that the simultaneous scheduling of hearings at different levels of the judiciary underscores the complexity of the matter and the urgency with which both factions are seeking resolution.
The internal crisis within the ADC has unfolded against the backdrop of broader political realignments within Nigeria’s opposition landscape, with competing factions vying for control of party structures ahead of future electoral cycles. The dispute has already resulted in competing claims to national offices, conflicting communications to electoral authorities, and legal petitions challenging leadership legitimacy.
At the centre of the dispute is the question of succession and constitutional interpretation within the ADC following the exit of its founding national chairman, Ralph Nwosu. Competing interpretations of party rules have led to rival claims over who should lawfully occupy key leadership positions, including the national chairmanship and national secretary roles.
The Supreme Court’s decision on whether to grant a stay of execution will be closely watched, as it could determine whether the current leadership arrangement remains in place or whether the appellate court’s judgment continues to take immediate effect pending final determination. Legal analysts say the outcome could also influence ongoing administrative decisions by electoral authorities regarding recognition of party executives.
As the matter moves toward hearing, both factions are expected to present arguments on jurisdiction, party autonomy, and the legal threshold for intervention in internal political disputes. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the interlocutory application may ultimately shape the direction of the substantive appeal and determine the balance of authority within the party.
The case remains one of the most significant intra-party legal battles currently before Nigeria’s apex court, reflecting broader tensions in party governance, judicial oversight, and electoral regulation in the country’s evolving democratic system.
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