The Supreme Court has fixed Thursday, April 30, for judgment in the leadership dispute rocking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The apex court had earlier reserved judgment in the case, prompting the opposition party to petition the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), expressing concern over delay in the delivery of the ruling.
However, on Wednesday, the court announced that judgment would be delivered at 2pm on Thursday.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had reserved the matter for judgment after parties adopted their final written addresses.
The case stems from a leadership tussle within the ADC, with Ralph Nwosu and Nafiu Bala Gombe challenging the authority of the David Mark-led faction of the party.
Mark, who leads one of the factions, is contesting the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the dispute.
In his appeal, the former Senate President argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction, insisting that the matter was strictly an internal party affair which courts lack the power to adjudicate.
The suit was instituted by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who are challenging the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
Other respondents include the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former national chairman Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership other than his faction pending the determination of the appeal.
However, the respondents urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court acted within its jurisdiction.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026 and signed by ADC counsel Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the Mark-led faction appealed for urgent intervention, warning of consequences if judgment was further delayed.
The letter read in part: “My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.
“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria.
“My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.
“Your Lordship’s would find attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognizing the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections.
“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.
“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.
“My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court. We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.”
The respondents, however, maintained that the appeal lacked merit and urged the apex court to dismiss it.
