“ADC War Reaches Boiling Point: Supreme Court Set to Decide Who Truly Owns the Party”
By Passman Akpos
Nigeria’s political landscape is set for a dramatic legal confrontation as the Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed April 14 for the hearing of a high-stakes appeal filed by David Mark, national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, against a suit challenging his leadership.
The appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, pits Mark against Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman who is contesting the legitimacy of Mark’s leadership of the party. Mark is seeking an order to halt the execution of the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed his earlier challenge and ordered parties to return to the trial court
Adding to the legal tension, the Federal High Court—presided over by Emeka Nwite—has also scheduled April 14 for hearing Bala’s suit, raising the possibility of procedural clashes. Legal observers suggest the lower court may step down proceedings in deference to the apex court.
Mark Seeks Protection, INEC in the Spotlight
In his appeal, Mark, through his counsel Realwan Okpanachi, is asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from tampering with the party’s leadership structure pending the determination of the case. He is also seeking to halt ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court.
The respondents in the case include Bala, the ADC, its national secretary Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and the party’s founder Ralph Nwosu.
Origins of the Crisis
The leadership crisis dates back to September 2025, when Bala approached the Federal High Court seeking to stop INEC from recognising Mark-led executives. Bala insisted he never resigned as national vice-chairman and argued that, following Nwosu’s exit, he should have automatically assumed the role of national chairman in line with the party’s constitution.He subsequently declared himself chairman and filed motions to halt all party activities, including meetings and congresses.
Appeal Court Blow and INEC Withdrawal
Mark’s attempt to stop the trial court proceedings suffered a setback on March 12, 2026, when the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal as incompetent and lacking merit. The appellate court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and return to the trial court.
In a move that further complicated the crisis, INEC on April 1 announced it would no longer recognise either faction of the ADC leadership, citing its interpretation of the appellate court’s ruling. The commission also declared it would refrain from engaging with both camps or monitoring their activities.
Fresh Legal Firepower
Reacting swiftly, the Mark-led faction filed a motion on April 7, through senior advocate Sulaiman Usman, asking the court to compel INEC to restore its recognition of the party’s national working committee. The faction also requested an accelerated hearing.
Mark has additionally challenged the competence of Bala’s suit, arguing that Bala lacks the legal standing to institute the case, having allegedly resigned his position. He described the suit as rooted in “falsehood and suppression of material facts,” insisting that internal party disputes are not matters for judicial intervention.
All Eyes on April 14
With both the Supreme Court and Federal High Court set to hear related matters on the same day, April 14 is shaping up to be a decisive moment for the ADC. The outcome could determine not only the party’s leadership but also its political relevance ahead of future electoral contests.
As the legal battle intensifies, the ADC remains deeply divided, with uncertainty looming over its structure, legitimacy, and future direction.
