By Suleiman Anyalewechi
The African Democratic Congress, ADC, has formally written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Her Lordship, The Honourable Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, on the need for an expedited ruling on the pending case involving parties in the internal and leadership crisis rocking the party.
The Supreme Court of Nigeria had, on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, reserved judgment on the appeal filed by the Senator David Mark-led factional leadership of the ADC ,for a date to be communicated to all the parties.
The Mark-led leadership had filed an application challenging the Court of Appeal judgment of March 12,2026 ordering parties in the festering leadership tussle rocking the party to return back to the trial court for the continuation of proceedings in a motion on notice filed by the Bala Nafiu Gombe-faction of the party , disputing the Mark-led NEC.
Senator Mark, in the appeal, also prayed the apex court for an order of stay of execution of the Appallate Court’s ruling ordering parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by Nafiu Gombe before Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite of an Abuja Federal High Court.
It similarly asked the Court to set aside the March, 12, Court of Appeal judgment, and order the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to restore recognition for its leadership.
The INEC had, on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, based on the strength of the Court of Appeal verdict, withdrew recognition for the David Mark-led ADC NEC ,as well as halting all correspondences with it thereby effectively disrupting the party’s ability to meet the dateline set by the electoral umpire for political parties to file all necessary documents in relation to 2027 polls.
The Judgment of the five-member panel of Supreme Court Justices, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, is being perceived as holding much for the ADC, in its efforts to be on the ballot in 2027
In the letter written by its counsel, Shaibu Enejo Aruwa, the ADC expressed serious concern that any further delay in the Supreme Court’s delivery of its ruling could jeopardize the chances of the party participating in the 2027 elections.
In the letter dated, Tuesday April 28, 2026, and addressed to the CJN, the ADC called for a timely delivery of the verdict in its suit marked SC/CV/180/2026 to enable the party work towards the INEC deadline, noting that further delays could have far-reaching consequences for the party.
“We are most respectively constrained to request for my lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously.
“Without the delivery of the judgement 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.”, the party warned.
The letter emphasized that although a registered political party, the ADC, by virtue of the absence of an INEC-recognised national leadership, will not be able to meet key documentations and requirements outlined in the INEC’s electoral timetable.
According to the party, in the event of this grim prospect coming to fruition, millions of Nigerians aligned with the ADC will be disenfranchised across the country.
” 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.
“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 ADC added.
FOLLOW
US FOR MORE