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The Supreme Court of Nigeria is set to hear an appeal on Tuesday in the ongoing leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), involving the faction led by former Senate President David Mark and rival claimant Nafiu Bala Gombe. The case is scheduled for hearing on April 14, 2026, and is expected to address a request by the Mark-led faction seeking to halt the enforcement of a previous Court of Appeal judgment. The dispute is part of a broader legal battle over the control and legitimacy of the party’s national leadership structure. 
The case, formally listed as SC/CV/180/2026, stems from a protracted internal conflict in the ADC, where multiple factions have laid claim to the party’s leadership. Nafiu Bala Gombe had previously approached the Federal High Court seeking recognition as the legitimate national chairman, while also challenging the authority of the Mark-led executive. The Court of Appeal earlier ordered all parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum,” effectively freezing major leadership changes pending the final determination of the substantive suit. 
Following the appellate court’s decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) stepped back from recognising any faction, further deepening the uncertainty within the party. INEC also removed the names of key figures linked to the leadership tussle from its official records, stating it would await the final judicial outcome before taking a position. 
The ongoing crisis has led to multiple parallel claims of authority within the ADC, with competing factions accusing each other of illegitimacy and attempting to control party structures ahead of future elections. The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to be a decisive moment in resolving the leadership dispute, which has already weakened internal cohesion and drawn significant political attention nationwide. 
