Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun
ADC begs CJN for urgent judgment, warns delay could exclude party from 2027 elections
The Senator David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to expedite the delivery of judgment in the party’s ongoing national leadership dispute, warning that further delay could bar it from participating in the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated April 28, the party stated that it would suffer irreparable harm if the Supreme Court does not deliver its judgment within the timeframe required by the Electoral Act for parties to field candidates.
The Supreme Court had reserved judgment on April 22, following arguments from all parties, but has yet to announce a date.
Expressing concern that any prolonged delay would make it impossible for the ADC to take part in the upcoming elections, the party issued a plea to the CJN.
The letter, written by its lead counsel Shuaibu Enejoh Aruwa (SAN), specifically requested that the judgment be delivered within three days starting from April 28.
The letter, titled “Re – Suit No 8SC/CV/180/2026: Senator David Mark V Nafiu Bala Gombe & 4 Ors,” and received by the CJN’s office, noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had already acted on a lower court ruling to de-recognise the Mark-led leadership, leaving the ADC without a recognised leadership despite being a registered party.
The ADC argued that its ability to comply with INEC’s timetable for the 2027 elections depends entirely on a timely judgment.
“Without the delivery of judgment 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,” part of the letter read.
At the April 22 hearing, Mark’s counsel, Jibrin Okutepa, urged the Supreme Court to allow the appeal, arguing that a March 21, 2025, Supreme Court judgment had already ruled that courts lack jurisdiction over political parties’ internal affairs. Conversely, counsel for the first respondent, Nafiu Gombe, urged the court to dismiss the appeal.
The dispute stems from a Court of Appeal decision dismissing Mark’s challenge against a Federal High Court ruling.
The appellate court had ordered a return to the trial court with a status quo directive, prompting INEC to de-recognise Mark’s leadership. Mark then approached the Supreme Court, where judgment was reserved on April 22.
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