The Supreme Court has designated today, Thursday, April 30th, for judgment in the leadership crisis shaking the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The top court had reserved judgement in the case and the opposition party had petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) that time was not on its side, reports Daily Trust.
But the apex court has said that the verdict would be delivered by 2pm today.
Following parties’ adoption of their last written addresses, the case was fixed for decision by a five-member panel of the supreme court chaired by Justice Mohammed Garba.
Mark, who heads a party group, has vowed to challenge the March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal ordering parties to keep the status quo in the dispute.
In his appeal, the former Senate President said the appellate court overstepped its jurisdiction and said the issue was an internal party affair which courts have no powers to judge.
The complaint was filed by unhappy members of the party under the leadership of Nafiu Bala Gombe, seeking to challenge the leadership of the party under Mark.
Other respondents in the appeal include the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and a former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an order prohibiting INEC from acknowledging any other leadership other than his side pending the result of the appeal.
The respondents, however, requested the supreme court to dismiss the appeal saying that the lower court was rightly seized of the matter.
The Mark-led faction, in a letter addressed to the ADC and signed by the ADC counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, dated April 28, 2026, said the ADC “stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Election” if the apex court fails to deliver judgment within the next three days.
The Mark-led faction said the decision will deny the constitutional right of millions of Nigerians to participate in the elections under the platform of the party.
“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgement was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court,” the letter adds.
“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in
Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 was for removal or de-recognition of the leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) leaving the ADC without leadership at the present even though ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria.
My Lord, we further humbly bring your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and operations in readiness which have already began.
For your Lordship’s perusal are attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognizing the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections.
My Lord, the expeditious delivery of the judgment in the present Appeal is the sine qua non for the ADC to be able to meet these statutory conditions to participate in the 2027 General Elections.
“The ADC is exposed to the grave and irreversible risk of being disqualified from participating in the 2027 General Elections, if judgment is not delivered within three days from the date of this letter.
“This will disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who 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.
“My Lord, we are aware of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court. We are equally cognizant that justice delayed, in this unique situation, would be justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the reasonable expectations of its members around the country are now in jeopardy.”
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