The Supreme Court is set to hear an appeal filed by the embattled National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, over the ongoing leadership dispute within the party.
The case, scheduled for Tuesday, April 14, follows Mark’s challenge against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal.
According to a hearing notice with appeal number SC/CV/180/2026, the matter involves Mark against Nafiu-Bala Gombe and four others.
The notice, issued through the Litigation Department of the Supreme Court on Friday.
Interestingly, the hearing date coincides with proceedings earlier fixed before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
However, the lower court may step down or adjourn its case in deference to the Supreme Court, in line with judicial hierarchy.
Mark, the appellant, listed Gombe, the African Democratic Congress, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and Ralph Nwosu as respondents.
Through his lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, Mark is seeking an order staying the execution of the appellate court’s judgment pending the determination of his appeal.
He also asked the court to restrain INEC from recognising any other individual as national chairman of the party.
In addition, he urged the apex court to prevent any interference with the current leadership structure of the ADC under his watch.
Mark further requested a halt to ongoing proceedings in Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 before the Federal High Court, pending the outcome of his appeal.
The motion, filed under relevant constitutional provisions and Supreme Court rules, is supported by a 12-ground argument.
Okpanachi explained that the Court of Appeal delivered its judgment on March 12, prompting Mark to file a notice of appeal on March 16.
He added that the record of appeal was transmitted on March 31 and has been duly entered before the Supreme Court.
According to him, the appellate court had ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum.
“The 1st respondent (Gombe) has been relying on the said order to write to the 4th respondent (INEC), urging it to refrain from dealing with or recognising the appellant (Mark) and other national officers of the 2nd respondent (ADC).
“The actions of the 1st respondent (Gombe) amount to attempted enforcement of the judgment of the Court of Appeal,” he said.
The lawyer maintained that Mark’s appeal challenges the entire judgment.
“Unless this application is granted, the judgment of the Court of Appeal will be enforced and the appeal rendered nugatory.”
He argued that the appeal raises substantial legal questions.
“It is in the interest of justice to preserve the res and protect the authority of this honourable court,” he prayed.
The dispute intensified after INEC, on April 1, removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal as national chairman and national secretary of the ADC.
In response, Mark filed a fresh motion before Justice Nwite on April 7 through his counsel, Sulaiman Usman, SAN, seeking an order directing INEC to restore their names. He also requested accelerated hearing of the case, which was fixed for April 14.
The legal battle stems from a suit filed by Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC, who challenged the legitimacy of Mark’s leadership.
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Gombe had asked the Federal High Court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as party leaders.
He argued that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Earlier, on September 4, 2025, Justice Nwite declined an ex-parte application by Gombe seeking to halt the Mark-led leadership.
Instead, the court directed all parties to be put on notice and adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025.
Subsequently, the Mark-led faction approached the Court of Appeal, questioning the lower court’s jurisdiction.
The appellate court then ordered all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending resolution of the dispute.
With the Supreme Court now set to intervene, attention shifts to Tuesday’s proceedings, which could shape the future leadership of the ADC.