Mark faction writes CJN, urges swift Supreme Court verdict on ADC

The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aligned with former Senate President David Mark has appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to ensure a swift delivery of the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s lingering leadership dispute.

The apex court had, last Tuesday, reserved judgment in an appeal filed by Mark challenging the crisis within the party.

Mark is contesting the March 12 decision of the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum in a case brought by aggrieved members of the ADC.

In the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026, the former Senate president argued that the appellate court overstepped its bounds by intervening in what he described as the internal matters of a political party.

The case originated from a September 4, 2025, ruling of the Federal High Court, which was challenged by Mark but later upheld by the Court of Appeal in its March 12 judgment.

The suit at the lower court was filed by Nafiu Bala, a factional national chairman, who is disputing the takeover of the party’s structure by the Mark-led group.

In a letter dated April 28, 2026, and signed by the party’s counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the Mark faction warned that any delay in the Supreme Court’s decision could jeopardise the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.

The letter stated that if the ruling is not delivered within three days, the ADC “stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Election”.

According to the faction, such an outcome would effectively deprive millions of Nigerians of their constitutional right to contest elections on the platform of the party.

“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,” the letter reads.

“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 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.”