The Supreme Court of Nigeria has fixed Thursday, April 30, 2026, for judgment in the protracted leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The apex court, which had earlier reserved judgment after hearing arguments from all parties, announced on Wednesday that the verdict would be delivered at 2:00 p.m.

A five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba slated the matter for judgment following the adoption of final written addresses by counsel representing the disputing factions.

The appeal was filed by former Senate President, David Mark, who is leading a faction of the party. He is challenging the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.

Mark, in his submission, argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction, insisting that the matter concerns internal party affairs, which courts are not empowered to adjudicate.

The suit originated from aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who are contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.

Other respondents in the case include the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and a former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.

Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership outside his faction pending the determination of the appeal. However, the respondents have urged the court to dismiss the appeal, maintaining that the lower court acted within its jurisdiction.

In a letter dated April 28, 2026, and signed by the ADC’s counsel, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, the Mark-led faction warned that delay in delivering judgment could jeopardise the party’s participation in the 2027 general elections.

The letter noted that INEC had already acted on the lower court’s ruling to de-recognise the party’s leadership, leaving the ADC without a functional structure despite remaining a registered political party.

It further stressed that failure to deliver judgment promptly could deny millions of party members their constitutional right to political participation, especially in view of the electoral timetable already released by INEC.