By Fatima Sani, Abuja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to facilitate the prompt delivery of a Supreme Court judgment on its protracted leadership dispute, warning that delays could threaten its participation in the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated April 28, a faction of the party led by David Mark cautioned that if the apex court fails to deliver its ruling within three days, the party risks “grave and irreversible” exclusion from the electoral process.
The party drew attention to the timetable already released by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), noting that its compliance with key electoral requirements depends on a timely resolution of the appeal before the Supreme Court.
The letter, signed by counsel to the faction, Mr. Shuaibu Aruwa, SAN, recalled that the appeal was heard on April 22, 2026, with judgment reserved for a date yet to be announced.
“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to meet statutory conditions for participation in the 2027 general elections is entirely dependent on the timely delivery of judgment in this appeal,” the letter stated.
It added that failure to deliver judgment within the stipulated timeframe could disenfranchise millions of Nigerians and deny them the right to associate politically and contest elections through a platform of their choice.
The party explained that the crisis escalated after INEC, acting on a Court of Appeal ruling, delisted key officials from its records, effectively leaving the party without a recognized leadership.
A five-member panel of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, had reserved judgment in the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026 after hearing submissions from all parties.
The appeal filed by Mark seeks to overturn the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the maintenance of the status quo in a suit initiated by aggrieved members led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.
Mark maintains that the dispute concerns internal party affairs, which he argued are beyond the jurisdiction of the courts.
Other respondents in the case include Gombe, the ADC, its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Among the reliefs sought, the appellant is asking the apex court to restrain INEC from recognizing any leadership outside his faction and to halt proceedings in a related suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja pending the determination of the appeal.
The letter has since been acknowledged by the office of the CJN.
Meanwhile, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court had earlier adjourned indefinitely a related case challenging the Mark-led leadership, citing the pending appeal before the Supreme Court and warning that proceeding would amount to “judicial rascality.”
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