*Writes CJN, Wants Timely Supreme Court Judgment On Leadership Tussle
THE David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, seeking timely delivery of the Supreme Court judgment on the disputes involving the party.
This followed the reservation of ruling last week by the apex court in an appeal filed by Mark regarding the leadership dispute in the party.
The former senate president, in the appeal, marked SC/CV/180/2026, arising the Court of Appeal ruling on March 12, dismissing Mark’s appeal against a September 4, last year, judgment of the Federal High Court, in a suit filed by a factional national chairman, Nafiu Bala, challenging the take over of the party by the Mark-led faction, argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction by intervening in what he described as the internal affairs of a political party.
In a letter obtained dated April 28, and signed by its Counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the faction said if the judgment of the apex court was not delivered within the next three days, the ADC “stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general election.”
It stated that the development would deny the constitutional right of millions of Nigerians to contest the elections under the platform of the party.
The letter partly read: “My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.
“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment, even though the ADC remains a recognised registered political party in Nigeria.
“My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC timetable for the 2027 general elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.
“Your Lordship’s would find attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognising the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC Timetable for the 2027 general elections.
“My Lord, the ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 general elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.
“Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 general elections.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
The latter added: “My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court.
“We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.”
