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Mark-led NWC steps up plan for convention
From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The battle for the control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has shifted to the courts as the Supreme Court and a Federal High Court, Abuja, are scheduled to begin hearing on suits filed by former deputy National Chairman of the opposition party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, against the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC).
The subject matter of the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026 is a dispute involving Mark and four others, including Gombe, the party, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Mark, who is challenging his removal as ADC National Chairman, is seeking an order to stay the execution of the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal pending the determination of his appeal.
He further urged the court to halt any action that could alter the existing leadership structure of the party, as well as suspend proceedings in a related suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In addition, he is also seeking to restrain INEC from recognising any other individuals as national officers of the party.
The Supreme Court hearing coincides with a separate case scheduled before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who has equally fixed April 14 for the hearing of the suit filed by Gombe.
The legal tussle stems from a dispute initiated by Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national chairman and secretary, arguing that their appointments violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Although the Federal High Court had earlier declined to grant an ex parte order to stop the Mark-led leadership, the Court of Appeal later directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, a development Gombe has relied upon to press INEC to withdraw recognition of Mark’s leadership.
Following the appellate court’s decision, INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal on April 1, intensifying the leadership crisis within the party.
In response, Mark approached the Federal High Court seeking an order compelling the electoral body to restore their names, with the matter also slated for hearing on April 14.
However, the Supreme Court hearing is expected to take precedence, as legal experts suggest the lower court may adjourn its proceedings pending the outcome at the apex court, in line with the hierarchy of courts.
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Mark’s legal team argued that unless the stay of execution is granted, the Court of Appeal judgment could be enforced, thereby rendering the appeal nugatory.
He alleged that Gombe has written to INEC, urging the commission not to recognise him or other ADC national officers, effectively implementing the appellate ruling.
“Unless this application is granted, the judgment of the Court of Appeal will be enforced and the appeal rendered nugatory,” his lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, argued, adding that the case raises substantial legal questions.
The suit by Gombe, who is laying claim to the chairmanship of the ADC, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, and has the opposition, ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, INEC and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants, is seeking to stop the Mark-led NWC from parading itself as leaders of the party.
The Court had adjourned the case to await the outcome of an appeal by the Mark-led NWC. However, based on the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered the parties to return to the trial court and maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the suit, a hearing in the dispute has been fixed to commence on April 14.
Apart from the suit by Gombe, there are no fewer than four other litigations pending before different courts.
These include a suit by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, challenging the emergence of the Mark-led NWC, two suits by the forum of state chairmen on the emergence of the acting leadership of the party and another on the state congresses, as well as a suit by Mark NWC challenging the decision of INEC to delist the ADC national executive from its portal.
The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, confirmed to Daily Sun, yesterday, that the party was going ahead with the convention, noting that the exercise will be chaired by former Cross State governor Liyel Imoke.
Abdulahi said, “It (National Convention) is on the 14th. We are definitely doing it on the 14th. It is chaired by Governor Liyel Imoke.” When asked to comment on the appointment of Ogga as “acting chairman” by some state chairmen, the spokesman noted that it is a non-issue.
However, Ogga dismissed plans by the Mark-led NWC to go ahead with the National convention, saying it would be an exercise in futility and also dismissed the state congresses held at the weekend as a nullity.
He said, “There was no congress at all. I have issued a statement that we are abiding with the instruction of INEC. That is effort in futility. Who monitored it? That is not Congress. The convention will wait until INEC decides. Who will monitor their convention? INEC is the umpire. And if INEC did not go for a convention, that convention is null and void.”
Ogga told Daily Sun that the state chairmen currently have two suits bordering on the ADC leadership and state congresses, noting that eventually “the court will pronounce who is the leader of the party. We have two cases. We are asking for the nullification of the congresses.”
