Nigeria’s Supreme Court has fixed Tuesday, April 14, for the hearing of an appeal involving a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), bringing renewed attention to a long-running internal party crisis.
The appeal was filed by the party’s national chairman, David Mark, who is challenging a rival claim to leadership made by a former deputy national chairman, Nafiu Bala.
In the case marked SC/CV/180/2026, Mr Mark is asking the apex court to halt the enforcement of a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal, which had dismissed his earlier challenge as incompetent.
He is also seeking an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from altering the party’s current leadership structure while the case is still before the courts.
The appeal, filed through his lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, also requests a suspension of ongoing proceedings at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where a related case is being heard.
The leadership dispute is also being examined at the Federal High Court, where Justice Emeka Nwite had previously scheduled hearings involving both parties.
With both the Supreme Court and Federal High Court matters now listed around the same period, legal observers say the lower court may defer proceedings in respect of judicial hierarchy until the apex court delivers direction.
The crisis dates back to September 2025, when Mr Bala filed a suit seeking recognition as acting national chairman of the ADC. He also asked the court to stop INEC from recognising the Mark-led leadership structure.
Mr Bala argued that he had not resigned his position as vice-chairman and should have assumed leadership following the departure of the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
He later declared himself national chairman and moved to restrict party activities, including meetings and conventions, pending the outcome of the case.
In March 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed Mr Mark’s challenge and ordered both parties to maintain the status quo while the substantive matter continues at the trial court.
Subsequently, INEC announced on April 1 that it would no longer recognise any faction within the ADC led by either Mr Mark or Mr Bala, citing the appellate court ruling.
The electoral commission also said it would avoid engagement with both groups until the legal dispute is resolved.
Following INEC’s position, the Mark-led faction filed fresh applications seeking to compel the commission to reinstate its recognition of their executive structure.
Mr Mark has also challenged the suit filed by Mr Bala, arguing that it should not be heard because it concerns internal party matters, which he described as non-justiciable.
He further claimed that Mr Bala had misrepresented facts and lacked legal standing to bring the case.
