The faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) aligned with former Senate President David Mark has formally appealed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, to facilitate the swift delivery of judgment in a pending Supreme Court case over the party’s leadership dispute.
In a letter dated April 28 and signed by its counsel, Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), the party cautioned that any prolonged delay in the ruling could jeopardize its ability to participate in the 2027 general elections.
The Supreme Court had, on April 22, heard arguments in the contentious appeal and subsequently reserved judgment without announcing a date. The case was presided over by a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba, following appeals challenging earlier lower court decisions tied to the party’s leadership tussle.
In the correspondence, the legal team stressed the urgency of the matter, warning that the absence of a timely ruling could have far-reaching consequences for the party’s political future.
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 lawyers further warned that time was of the essence, linking the party’s eligibility for the elections directly to the court’s decision.
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.”
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission has fixed May 10 as the deadline for political parties to submit their membership registers as part of preparations for the 2027 polls.
The commission has scheduled presidential and National Assembly elections for January 16, 2027, while governorship and State Assembly elections are set for February 6, 2027.
It also outlined that party primaries will be conducted between April 23 and May 30, 2026, while campaigns for presidential and National Assembly elections will begin on August 19, 2026. Governorship and state assembly campaigns are slated to commence on September 9, 2026.
