Nigeria’s Supreme Court has delivered judgment in the appeal filed by the Senator David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), effectively voiding the Court of Appeal’s March 12, 2026 order that directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
The apex court’s ruling, delivered on Thursday, April 30, 2026, in the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026, sets aside the appellate court’s directive. That order had led the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition of the Mark-led national executive, including removing the names of Senator David Mark (as National Chairman) and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (as National Secretary) from its portal.
Key Points of the Ruling
- The Supreme Court held that the dispute is largely an internal affair of the political party, limiting excessive judicial interference.
- It voided the status quo ante bellum order issued by the Court of Appeal, which had frozen the leadership situation and created a leadership vacuum for the ADC.
- This decision is expected to pave the way for the restoration of recognition to the Mark-led executive, subject to any further directives or interpretations by INEC.
The Court of Appeal had earlier dismissed the Mark faction’s appeal, ordered accelerated hearing at the trial court, and directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum (the situation as it existed before the suit was filed by aggrieved members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe). INEC acted on that order by derecognizing the Mark leadership.
While today’s Supreme Court decision voids the status quo ante bellum order, INEC is expected to issue a statement soon on the practical implementation and restoration of the leadership on its records.
This development is significant for the ADC as it positions itself as a viable platform for opposition politics ahead of 2027. Further updates will follow as more details from the judgment and reactions from all factions emerge.
Background of the Crisis
The leadership dispute stemmed from challenges by aggrieved members, including a suit initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe (a former deputy national chairman), questioning the legitimacy of conventions and leadership changes under the Mark faction. Lower courts had intervened, leading INEC to derecognize the Mark-led executive on its portal and affecting the party’s structures ahead of the 2027 general elections. David Mark’s side consistently argued that courts should not meddle in internal party affairs, a position the Supreme Court has now apparently endorsed.
The judgment was highly anticipated, with the Mark-led ADC recently writing to the Chief Justice of Nigeria urging timely delivery due to its implications for the party’s participation in future elections. Some unverified social media claims of a contrary outcome (e.g., “sacking” Mark) circulated earlier today but appear to have been premature or false, as multiple reports and real-time reactions now confirm affirmation of his leadership.
