A faction of the African Democratic Congress aligned with former Senate President, David Mark, has urged the Chief Justice of Nigeria to facilitate the timely delivery of the Supreme Court judgment on the party’s protracted leadership dispute.
The appeal follows the apex court’s decision last Tuesday to reserve judgment in an appeal filed by Mark challenging the internal crisis within the party.
Mark is contesting the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which directed parties in the suit to maintain the status quo ante bellum in a case initiated by aggrieved members of the party.
In the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026, the former Senate President argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction by intervening in what he described as the internal affairs of a political party.
The dispute originated from a September 4, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court, which was challenged by Mark but later upheld by the Court of Appeal.
The suit was filed by Nafiu Bala, a factional national chairman, who is contesting the control of the party structure by the Mark-led group.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, and signed by the faction’s counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the group warned that any delay in the Supreme Court’s decision could affect the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.
The faction stated that failure to deliver judgment within a short timeframe could expose the party to the risk of exclusion from the electoral process.
It added that such a development would deny members and supporters the opportunity to contest elections on the platform of the party.
The letter noted that the appeal was heard on April 22, 2026, with judgment reserved for a later date yet to be communicated.
It also drew attention to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s timetable for the 2027 elections, stressing that compliance with statutory requirements depends on the resolution of the leadership dispute.
The faction maintained that delays in the judgment could have far-reaching implications for the party’s political future and the participation of its members nationwide.
It, however, acknowledged the workload of the Supreme Court, while urging that the matter be treated with urgency in the interest of justice and democratic participation.
