Nigeria’s Supreme Court has finally settled the long-running leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), ruling in favour of the faction led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The apex court overturned the earlier directive from the Court of Appeal which had asked parties to maintain the previous arrangement pending the outcome of the case. That order had led to confusion within the party and forced the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to withdraw recognition from all factions.
With the new judgment, the Supreme Court set aside that position and affirmed the leadership structure backed by Mark, effectively restoring his camp as the recognized authority within the party.
The dispute began after rival claims emerged over who should lead the ADC following internal disagreements. A faction led by Nafiu Bala had challenged Mark’s leadership in court, leading to conflicting rulings from the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal.
Mark’s camp had approached the Supreme Court, arguing that leadership matters within a political party are internal issues that courts should not interfere in. The appeal sought to nullify the earlier decisions that weakened his faction’s control of the party.
Before the final ruling, the case had raised concerns about the future of the ADC, especially with the 2027 elections approaching, as the party risked missing key electoral timelines without a recognized leadership.
Thursday’s judgment now brings an end to months of legal uncertainty, giving the Mark-led faction full control of the party structure and clearing the path for its political activities moving forward.
