The Supreme Court of Nigeria is scheduled to hear on Tuesday an appeal filed by former Senate President David Mark in a leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The appeal is against a suit instituted by former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala, who is challenging the party’s leadership structure.
In the filing through his counsel, Realwan Okpanachi, Mark is asking the court for an order staying the execution of a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal, pending the determination of his appeal.
He is also seeking an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from altering the party’s current national leadership structure, which he claims is valid and remains under his leadership.
Additionally, Mark is requesting a stay of proceedings in a related case before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The ADC has continued to face internal divisions, with rival factions laying claim to the party’s national leadership. The dispute has resulted in conflicting court orders and uncertainty over the party’s official structure.
The crisis deepened after INEC reportedly removed David Mark as national chairman from its records, prompting protests from his faction’s National Working Committee, alongside political figures such as Atiku Abubakar, Rauf Aregbesola, Peter Obi, and Rotimi Amaechi.
A counter-protest was also staged by a rival faction led by Nafiu Bala, which is demanding recognition by INEC.
