ADC Defeats INEC…Supreme Court Restores David Mark, Rauf Arigbesola Executive
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The Supreme Court has ordered that the ongoing leadership dispute within the Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) be returned to the Federal High Court for full hearing and determination.
In a unanimous judgment delivered on Thursday, the apex court set aside an earlier ruling of the Court of Appeal which had directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The Supreme Court described that directive as “unnecessary, improper and unwarranted.”
The court, however, declined to uphold arguments challenging the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeal, affirming that the appellate court acted within its legal authority.
With this decision, the Supreme Court effectively reinstated the executive committee led by David Mark, pending the final determination of the substantive case before the Federal High Court.
The dispute originated from a suit filed by a rival faction, which asked the court to restrain Mark’s group from presenting itself as the party’s leadership and to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise its own leadership instead.
Earlier, the Federal High Court had ordered all parties to maintain the status quo to prevent actions that could undermine the judicial process. However, following the Court of Appeal’s status quo ante bellum order, INEC announced it would not recognise any faction of the party and subsequently removed the names of Mark and his executives from its official portal.
This move effectively left the ADC without a recognised leadership at a critical time ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The situation triggered protests in Abuja, where party members accused INEC of bias and interference in the party’s internal affairs. Demonstrators marched to the commission’s headquarters, calling for the resignation of its chairman.
Despite INEC’s stance, the Mark-led faction proceeded with its congresses and national convention, maintaining that the commission had no right to interfere in its internal processes.
Meanwhile, on April 30, a Federal High Court in Abuja barred INEC from recognising or participating in any congress organised by the disputed caretaker leadership of the party.
The Supreme Court’s ruling comes just days after the Mark faction petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging expedited judgment on the matter.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, the faction warned that continued delays could jeopardise its constitutional right to participate in the 2027 elections and leave the party without a legitimate leadership structure.
