The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 22 for the hearing of an appeal arising from the protracted leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress.
The apex court slated the date on Tuesday after granting an accelerated hearing in the appeal filed by a factional National Chairman of the party, identified as Mark.
The appeal challenges the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier suit contesting the September 4, 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In that ruling, trial judge Emeka Nwite declined to grant ex-parte injunctive reliefs sought by a party chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
A five-member panel of the apex court, presided over by Mohammed Garba, directed the appellant’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve his brief of argument within 24 hours.
The court further ordered the respondents to file and exchange their briefs within three days of receiving the appellant’s processes.
It also ruled that the appellant may file a reply, where necessary, within one day of being served with the respondents’ submissions.
The accelerated timetable signals the court’s resolve to swiftly determine the dispute, which has deepened divisions within the party ahead of key political activities.
