Former Senate President David Mark has called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to urgently deliver a ruling on the deepening leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress, ADC.
Mark, who leads one faction of the party as national chairman, warned that delays at the Supreme Court could cost the ADC its place in the 2027 general elections. According to him, the situation has become critical, with the party’s future now depending entirely on how quickly the court reaches a verdict.
He stressed that any failure to resolve the dispute in time could shut the party out of the elections and leave millions of its supporters without representation.
The legal battle centers on a dispute over the party’s leadership, which escalated after a Court of Appeal decision. Mark argued that the appellate court overstepped its authority by interfering in what he described as an internal party matter. The case was brought by aggrieved members led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.
Following that ruling, the Independent National Electoral Commission took action by withdrawing recognition of the Mark-led leadership. On April 1, the commission removed the names of the faction’s National Working Committee members from its official records, effectively leaving the party without a recognised leadership structure despite still being a registered political party.
The Supreme Court heard arguments from all sides on April 22, 2026, and reserved judgment. Since then, uncertainty has continued to grow within the party.
Amid the tension, the ADC recently held a national convention and has openly declared its ambition to challenge Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections. Supporters of Mark’s faction have also taken to the streets in protest, demanding that electoral authorities restore recognition of their leadership.
With the clock ticking toward the next election cycle, the outcome of the Supreme Court’s decision is now seen as decisive for whether the ADC can remain a viable political force.
