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The Supreme Court has reserved judgment in an appeal filed by African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman David Mark, who is challenging the court’s jurisdiction to interfere in the party’s internal affairs.
A five-member panel led by Justice Garba Mohammed announced the decision after counsel for all parties adopted their written arguments for and against the appeal.
Counsel to Mark, Jibrin Okutepa (SAN), argued that the apex court had already settled the issue in a March 21, 2025, ruling, where it held that courts lacked jurisdiction over matters relating to the internal affairs of political parties. He urged the court to allow the appeal and rule that the Federal High Court had no authority to entertain the suit concerning ADC leadership.
Responding, counsel to Nafiu Gombe, Robert Emukpero (SAN), asked the court to dismiss the appeal and uphold the earlier judgment of the Court of Appeal, which found Mark’s case premature and struck it out.
A three-member panel of the appellate court had earlier dismissed Mark’s appeal challenging the jurisdiction of Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to hear the suit filed by Gombe over the ADC leadership dispute.
The appellate court held that the appeal was premature and filed without leave of the trial court. It subsequently directed that the case be returned to the lower court for accelerated hearing and ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum.
Following that directive, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) withdrew recognition of the Mark-led leadership pending a final judicial determination of the party’s authentic leadership.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Mark approached the Supreme Court to challenge both the appellate court’s judgment and the order maintaining the status quo.
After hearing submissions from all parties, Justice Garba Mohammed said judgment had been reserved and that a date for delivery would be communicated later.
