The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, calling for the immediate delivery of a Supreme Court judgment in a pending appeal over its leadership crisis, warning that delays could shut the party out of the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated April 28 and signed by senior advocate Shuaibu E. Aruwa (SAN), the faction aligned with former Senate President David Mark said the urgency of the matter is tied to ongoing electoral processes already set in motion by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The Supreme Court had, on April 22, heard arguments in the dispute and reserved judgment without announcing a date for its ruling. The five-member panel was chaired by Mohammed Garba.
ADC’s legal team warned that the absence of a definitive judgment has left the party in a precarious position, particularly after INEC reportedly acted on a lower court ruling to de-recognise its leadership structure.
According to the party, the situation has effectively created a leadership vacuum at a time when critical electoral deadlines are fast approaching.
INEC has set May 10, 2026, as the deadline for submission of party membership registers, while party primaries are scheduled to run from April 23 to May 30. Campaign activities for presidential and National Assembly elections are to commence on August 19, 2026.
The ADC argued that without a recognised leadership, it risks failing to meet statutory requirements necessary to participate in the elections.
“Our client faces a grave and irreversible risk of exclusion from the 2027 general elections if judgment is not delivered within days,” the letter stated, stressing that such an outcome would disenfranchise its supporters nationwide.
The party further maintained that the delay threatens the constitutional rights of its members to freely associate and contest elections under a political platform of their choice.
While acknowledging the pressures on the apex court, the legal team urged the Chief Justice to intervene administratively to ensure the case is concluded without further delay.
They emphasised that the matter is time-sensitive, noting that “justice delayed in this peculiar circumstance would amount to justice denied.”
The leadership tussle within the ADC has drawn significant political attention in recent months, particularly as the party positions itself ahead of the 2027 elections.
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