Mark-led ADC relieved as Supreme Court voids status quo ruling

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, has secured a significant reprieve following recent rulings of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which vacated earlier Court of Appeal orders that had led to the derecognition of its leadership by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

The apex court set aside the status quo ante bellum order issued by the Court of Appeal, while directing that the substantive dispute be returned to the Federal High Court in Abuja for full hearing.

The decision effectively cleared the way for INEC to restore the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) on its official portal, where Mark is now listed as National Chairman alongside Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other executives.

Although the ruling has been widely interpreted as a boost for the Mark faction, the Supreme Court was clear that the underlying leadership dispute remains unresolved and must be determined by the trial court.

In a related development, the Supreme Court also delivered a split judgment in the long-running Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leadership crisis, nullifying the party’s November 2025 national convention held in Ibadan, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led executive backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde.

The apex court held that the convention was conducted in violation of subsisting court orders and therefore declared it invalid.

It also upheld earlier findings that certain suspended party officials acted in breach of judicial directives.

The judgment has, however, triggered divergent interpretations within the PDP.

The Wike-aligned camp insists the ruling validates its position, while the Board of Trustees (BoT), led by Adolphus Wabara, argues that the decision effectively nullifies both competing factions and leaves the BoT with constitutional responsibility to stabilise the party.

According to Wabara, the intervention was necessary to avoid a leadership vacuum, citing provisions of the party constitution.

The Turaki camp, on the other hand, maintains that the ruling exposes a leadership void and calls for urgent action by party organs to restore order.

Legal analysts say the PDP judgment has further deepened internal divisions, even as the party struggles to present a united front ahead of future elections.

On the ADC matter, INEC has already reinstated the David Mark-led leadership on its website, listing key officers including Aregbesola, Dr. Mani Ibrahim Ahmad, Akibu Dalhatu, and Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor.

The commission had earlier removed the faction following an appellate court ruling in March 2026, but said it acted based on evolving court decisions and conflicting legal interpretations.

Reacting to the ADC judgment, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the ruling as an important milestone but cautioned that the broader political struggle remains ongoing.

He urged supporters not to become complacent, stressing that the objective of political realignment and national “rescue” is far from achieved.

Meanwhile, the ADC has hailed the Supreme Court decision as a vindication of its leadership structure and has renewed its call for institutional reforms within INEC, including a demand for the resignation of the commission’s chairman.

Political observers say the twin Supreme Court rulings have reshaped the internal dynamics of both opposition parties, creating temporary relief for some factions while leaving deeper structural disputes unresolved.

As both the PDP and ADC prepare for the next phase of legal and political battles, analysts warn that the courts may have only succeeded in resetting, rather than resolving, Nigeria’s ongoing party leadership crises.

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