Supreme Court to Decide ADC Leadership Today as David Mark Fights for Survival

Two courts. Two cases. One party. The African Democratic Congress enters Tuesday, April 14, with its leadership hanging in the balance as both the Supreme Court and the Federal High Court in Abuja are set to hear matters that could determine who controls the party.

At the Supreme Court, former Senate President David Mark is asking the apex court to stay the execution of a March 12 Court of Appeal judgment that removed him as ADC national chairman. The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, pits Mark against Nafiu-Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman who successfully challenged Mark’s leadership at the appellate court.

The Court of Appeal had dismissed Mark’s case in its entirety, calling it “incompetent and lacking merit.” Mark is now seeking to reverse that outcome at the highest level.

A separate federal high court case

Running parallel to the Supreme Court proceedings is a fresh suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a separate group is seeking to restrain both Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as ADC chairman and secretary respectively. The ruling in that case was initially scheduled for Monday but was shifted to Tuesday by Justice Musa Suleiman Liman.

The timing means both courts could issue consequential rulings on the same day, creating potential for conflicting orders and further confusion within the party.

What is at stake

The ADC leadership dispute is not an internal party squabble in a vacuum. The party has become the principal vehicle for the opposition coalition that includes Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, and Rabiu Kwankwaso. If Mark loses at the Supreme Court, the faction that controls the party could shift, with consequences for how the opposition positions itself against President Tinubu in 2027.

INEC has already delisted Mark and Aregbesola from its records as ADC leaders, adding another layer of uncertainty. Whoever the courts recognise as the legitimate leadership will need to move fast to resolve the party’s status with the electoral commission before campaign season begins.

The hearing notice for the Supreme Court appeal was issued on Friday and sent to all parties. Proceedings are scheduled to begin on Tuesday morning.

For a party that wants to present itself as the credible alternative to the APC, having two courts decide who is in charge on the same day is not the look it was going for.

Sources: Premium Times, TheCable, NAN, Daily Post, Tribune Online, Legal Nigeria