The national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has assured party members that the party will participate in all elections in 2027 despite ongoing legal challenges.
Speaking on Wednesday night after receiving a briefing from the party’s legal team on a recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, Mark dismissed concerns over the litigations and expressed confidence in a favourable outcome, saying, “We shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.”
The ADC has been embroiled in a protracted leadership dispute between the faction led by former Senate President David Mark and another group associated with Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe.
The crisis escalated after a Court of Appeal ruling on March 12, 2026, which prompted Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognize the Mark-led leadership, leaving the party without a formally recognized structure ahead of critical pre-election activities.
In response, the party’s legal team has begun the process of appealing the judgment and has applied for a stay of execution.
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the ADC leadership dispute, with the matter marked SC/CV/180/2026.
The ruling comes amid a tight electoral calendar, as INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers, with Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and party primaries set to run from April 23 to May 30, 2026.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned against any attempt to compromise Nigeria’s democratic process, urging the judiciary to remain independent amid the rising political tensions linked to the ADC crisis.
ADC to Contest 2027 Elections Despite Mounting Legal Battles — David MarkThe national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark, has assured party members that the party will participate in all elections in 2027 despite ongoing legal challenges. Speaking on Wednesday night after receiving a briefing from the party’s legal team on a recent Federal High Court judgment in Abuja, Mark dismissed concerns over the litigations and expressed confidence in a favourable outcome, saying, “We shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.” The ADC has been embroiled in a protracted leadership dispute between the faction led by former Senate President David Mark and another group associated with Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe. The crisis escalated after a Court of Appeal ruling on March 12, 2026, which prompted Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to de-recognize the Mark-led leadership, leaving the party without a formally recognized structure ahead of critical pre-election activities. In response, the party’s legal team has begun the process of appealing the judgment and has applied for a stay of execution. The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the ADC leadership dispute, with the matter marked SC/CV/180/2026. The ruling comes amid a tight electoral calendar, as INEC has set May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers, with Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for January 16, 2027, and party primaries set to run from April 23 to May 30, 2026. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has cautioned against any attempt to compromise Nigeria’s democratic process, urging the judiciary to remain independent amid the rising political tensions linked to the ADC crisis.
