The African Democratic Congress has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging the Supreme Court to urgently deliver judgment in a pending appeal involving the party’s leadership crisis.
Former Senate President, David Mark-led ADC, in a letter dated April 28 to the Chief Justice of Nigeria and signed by its legal counsel, Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), warned that any further delay could threaten its participation in the 2027 general elections.
On April 22, the Supreme Court concluded the hearing in the leadership dispute rocking the ADC and reserved judgment.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, did not set a date for judgment after hearing arguments in separate appeals challenging lower court rulings on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers.
It also scheduled the Presidential and National Assembly elections for Saturday, January 16, 2027, while Governorship and State Assembly polls will hold on Saturday, February 6, 2027.
INEC added that party primaries, including the resolution of related disputes, will take place between April 23, 2026 and May 30, 2026.
Campaigns for the Presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026, while those for Governorship and State Assembly polls will commence on September 9, 2026.
Mark’s legal team in a letter on Suit No. SC/CV/180/2026 warned that, in the circumstances of the case, justice delayed would amount to justice denied.
The letter read in part, “We are counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2nd Respondent in the above-mentioned Appeal.
“My Lord, this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026, and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.
“However, My Lord, we are most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously having regard that INEC the 4th Respondent in the said Appeal purportedly, acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognized registered political party in Nigeria. My Lord, we also respectfully draw Your Lordship’s attention to the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced.
“Your Lordship would find attached copies of the INEC Press Release de-recognising the leadership of ADC and the Revised INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections.”
The legal team stated that ADC’s ability to meet the statutory conditions for participation in the 2027 general elections depends entirely on the prompt delivery of judgment in the appeal.
It continued, “Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections. This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.
“My Lord, we are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court. We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied.
“The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hang in the balance.”
