The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal brought by former Senate President David Mark, who is seeking to resolve the protracted leadership crisis engulfing the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba fixed the date for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses. The decision will be delivered at a later date to be communicated to the litigants.
Mark, who leads one of the factions vying for control of the ADC, is challenging a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal, which ordered all parties to maintain the status quo in the dispute. In his appeal, the former Senate President argues that the appellate court overstepped its jurisdiction. He insists that the crisis is an internal party affair, a domain which, under Nigerian law, courts are generally barred from entering.
The legal battle was initiated by a group of aggrieved party members led by Nafi’u Bala Gombe, who contest the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership. Other respondents in the appeal include the ADC itself, its National Secretary Ra’uf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a former national chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an injunction restraining INEC from recognising any leadership structure other than his faction, pending the final determination of the appeal. Conversely, the respondents have urged the apex court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court acted within its proper jurisdiction.
The leadership dispute has already prompted regulatory intervention: INEC has removed the names of the contending leaders from its official portal and has refused to recognise any faction until the courts provide a definitive resolution.
