Supreme Court Set to Rule on ADC and PDP Leadership Tussles Amid Fresh High Court Injunction Against David Mark

The Supreme Court delivers final verdicts on ADC and PDP disputes today, as a new court order bars INEC from recognizing David Mark's ADC congresses.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 30, 2026, 4:24 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Punch

Apex Court Verdicts to Reshape Opposition Landscape

The Supreme Court of Nigeria is scheduled to deliver judgments today at 2:00 PM on two major political appeals that could fundamentally alter the trajectory of the country’s leading opposition parties. The first case involves a leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), while the second concerns internal disputes in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). These verdicts come at a high-stakes moment, as political coalitions are already forming ahead of the 2027 electoral cycle. Leaders from both parties reportedly held emergency strategic meetings on Wednesday night to prepare for the possible judicial outcomes.

Federal High Court Intervenes in ADC Congresses

In a significant legal development on Wednesday, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court in Abuja issued an injunction restraining INEC from recognizing any congresses organized by the ADC caretaker leadership under David Mark. The court ruled that the appointment of a "congress committee" by Mark’s faction was not recognized by the ADC constitution and therefore invalid. The judge affirmed that the tenure of existing state executive committees must be allowed to run its full course, effectively nullifying parallel processes initiated by the interim national leadership.

David Mark Vows to Triumph Despite Litigations

Responding to the High Court ruling, ADC National Chairman David Mark expressed absolute confidence that the party would overcome its legal hurdles. In a statement issued through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, Mark assured members that the ADC would remain on the ballot for every election in 2027. He dismissed concerns over the current litigations, stating that the legal team has already initiated the process of appealing the High Court's decision and has applied for a stay of execution. Mark emphasized his commitment to leading the party through these challenges "from the front."