Supreme Court to rule on ADC leadership dispute, PDP Ibadan convention cases today

THE Supreme Court of Nigeria has scheduled Thursday, April 30, 2026, for judgment in an appeal filed by National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mr David Mark, concerning the ongoing leadership crisis within the party.

The case, registered as SC/CV/180/2026, appears on the Supreme Court’s official schedule, with notice already issued to all parties involved. The court is expected to begin proceedings at 2 pm.

Mark, who leads a faction of the ADC, is challenging the March 12 ruling of the court of appeal, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum in a dispute initiated by aggrieved members of the party.

In his appeal, the former Senate president contends that the appellate court went beyond its powers by intervening in what he described as the internal and political affairs of a registered party.

Through his legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Jubril Okutepa, Senator Mark argued that disputes over party leadership are not matters for judicial determination and urged the apex court to overturn the lower court’s decision.

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The respondents in the matter include Nafiu Bala, who represents a faction of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Ralph Nwosu, former national chairman of the party.

Among his requests, Mark is asking the Supreme Court to restrain INEC from recognising any leadership structure other than his faction pending the outcome of the appeal. He is also seeking an order preventing the electoral commission from altering the party’s leadership arrangement.

Additionally, he wants the court to suspend proceedings in a related case currently before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

While INEC did not submit any arguments either supporting or opposing the appeal, other respondents have urged the court to dismiss the case entirely.

A five-member panel of the Supreme Court had earlier reserved judgment after hearing arguments on April 22, 2026.

In a related development, the apex court will also deliver judgment on three separate appeals concerning the legitimacy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, 2025.