Supreme Court Fixes April 22 to Hear ADC Leadership Appeal

The Supreme Court has fixed April 22, 2026 to hearing the appeal arising from the leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress, (ADC).

The appeal was filed by the National Chairman of the party, former Senate President David Mark, challenging the decision of the court below (court of appeal) on the dispute.

A five-member panel of the apex court, ably 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 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 court proceedings, the apex court directed Mark’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve the appellant’s brief within a short period of time, in line with the accelerated hearing that was 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.