ADC Leadership Crisis: Supreme Court Takes Decision in David Mark's Appeal
- The Supreme Court took a decisive step in the ADC leadership crisis by reserving judgment on the appeal filed by David Mark, the embattled national chairman
- A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, made the decision after counsels for all parties adopted their briefs
- Mark filed the appeal to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal that favoured factional ADC national chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe
The Supreme Court officially reserved its judgment on Wednesday, April 22, stating that a date for the final verdict will be communicated to the parties involved in the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The Justice Mohammed Garba-led five-member panel announced this after the lawyers of the parties adopted their various briefs and prayed the court to grant their respective reliefs.
Source: Twitter
The appeal, filed by embattled ADC national chairman and former Senate president, David Mark, was marked SC/CV/180/2026. It challenged the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his appeal against the ruling of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on September 4, 2025.
The ruling declined to grant some injunctive reliefs which were contained in an ex parte application that was filed by the factional national chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Nigerians react as Supreme Court reserves ruling
The Supreme Court ruling has drawn reactions from Nigerians. Below are some of their comments:
Ola Salami explained the impact of the decision on the party:
"This means that unless the SC judgment is delivered before the deadline set by INEC for the submission of party candidates, and the judgment favours one of the sides of the dispute, INEC won't allow any of the sides to submit candidates for the January 2027 general election. Wàhálà."
Source: Twitter
Umar Aliman expressed confidence in the Supreme Court:
"Nafi'u Bala has failed to hold a convention yesterday. Something that APC and the President spend billions just to bring confusion, yet they've failed, so the Apex court will preside over the judgment. I believe that the Supreme Court is not like a higher court. We're law-abiding."
Dan Arewa expressed worry over the delay in the judgment:
"The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in David Mark’s appeal over the ADC leadership dispute, with the date to be communicated later. Meanwhile, delays keep dragging on despite INEC’s clear timelines; this uncertainty isn’t good for the process or public confidence."
Minugirl maintained that the atmosphere is tense and that judgment should be delivered on time:
"Hmmm, this is really a tense moment. When a matter gets this far and judgment is reserved, it shows how deep and sensitive the dispute is. At the end of the day, what people want is clarity and fairness, because prolonged uncertainty only increases frustration and division."
Read more reactions on X below:
ADC presidential ticket: Peter Obi appeals to Amaechi
Legit.ng earlier reported that the ADC presidential ticket race intensified as Peter Obi reportedly appealed to his counterpart, Rotimi Amaechi, to step down for him.
Obi was reported to have visited the former governor of Rivers, along with some Southeast leaders, at his Abuja residence ahead of the primary.
A source privy to the weekend meeting disclosed Amaechi's response to the delegation as the INEC deadline for party primaries drew closer.
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
