Apex Court Sets April 22 Date For ADC Leadership Crisis Appeal

The Supreme Court has fixed April 22 for the hearing of an appeal filed by African Democratic Congress National Chairman David Mark, arising from the protracted leadership crisis rocking the political party.

A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date on Tuesday after granting an accelerated hearing in the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026. The appeal was filed by the former Senate President challenging earlier court decisions on the dispute.

The appeal is against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Mark’s earlier appeal challenging a September 4, 2025, ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja. In the earlier decision, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court had refused to grant injunctive relief sought in an ex parte application filed by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

At Tuesday’s proceedings, the apex court directed Mark’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve the appellant’s brief within a short timeframe, in line with the accelerated hearing granted. It also ordered the respondents to file their briefs within three days of service, while the appellant is to file a reply, if necessary, within one day after receiving the respondents’ processes.

The dispute, which has generated multiple litigations, centres on the control and leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s leadership, particularly to the position of National Chairman.

More details shortly…