ADC urges CJN to expedite Supreme Court decision on leadership crisis

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faction allied with former Senate President David Mark has formally appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to facilitate speedy delivery of judgment in the pending Supreme Court case regarding the party leadership dispute.

In a letter dated April 28 and signed by its attorney, Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), the party warned that a prolonged delay in the decision could jeopardize its ability to participate in the 2027 general elections.

The Supreme Court, on April 22, heard arguments in the controversial appeal and later reached a decision without announcing a date. The case was presided over by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, following the filing of an appeal challenging an earlier lower court decision related to the party’s leadership dispute.

In the correspondence, the legal team emphasized the urgency of the matter, and warned that the absence of a timely decision could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s political future.

The letter reads in part, “We are counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2nd Defendant in the above Application.

“My Lord, this appeal was heard properly and expeditiously on April 22 2026, and a further decision is reserved for a date to be delivered by the court.

“However, Your Excellency, we are respectfully compelled to request His Excellency’s intervention and direction in ensuring that the judgment is delivered in a timely manner considering that INEC, the 4th Respondent in the Appeal, purportedly acted in accordance with the lower court decision in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acting to remove or derecognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC leaving ADC without leadership at this time even though ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria. Your Excellency, we also respectfully call Your Excellency’s attention to INEC’s Timetable for Elections General 2027 and preparations for activities that have begun.

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“Your Excellency will find a copy of the INEC Press Release revoking the recognition of ADC leadership and INEC’s Revised Timetable for the 2027 General Elections.”

The lawyers further warned that time was of the essence, and linked the party’s eligibility to contest the election directly to the court’s decision.

He continued, “Without the delivery of a decision within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC runs the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participation in the 2027 Elections. This will disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have embraced the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through the political party of their choice.

“Your Honor, we are aware of the enormous responsibility and workload of this Honorable Court. We also recognize that justice delayed, in these strange circumstances, means justice denied.

“Our client’s entire political future and the legitimate hopes of its members nationwide are now in jeopardy.”

Meanwhile, the Independent National Election Commission has set May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership lists as part of preparations for the 2027 elections.

The commission has scheduled the presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while the gubernatorial and State Assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.

The document also outlines that the party primaries will be held between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while the presidential and National Assembly election campaigns will begin on August 19, 2026. The gubernatorial and state assembly election campaigns are scheduled to begin on September 9, 2026.