The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the party, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend any consequential action until the Court of Appeal determines the matter.
The party also filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.
ADC disclosed the development in a statement on Friday by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of its Presidential Campaign Council.
He said INEC was formally notified on November 6 of both the notice of appeal and the application for a stay.
According to Shaibu, the stay application is yet to be determined, making it necessary for INEC to exercise restraint while the legal process continues.
“The Commission must respect the judicial process and allow the appellate court to hear the case,” he said.
ADC warned that any consequential action by INEC before the appeal is heard could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and affect the resolution of the dispute.
The party’s lawyers, S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., separately wrote to the INEC chairman on November 6, urging the commission to suspend further action on the subject matter of the suit pending determination of the appeal.
The party said its political activities would, however, continue despite the court battle, including preparations for the 2027 general election.
“This is not the end of the road. The ADC is taking every lawful step to defend its rights, and we will not be intimidated or distracted from that responsibility,” Shaibu said.
He also urged party members and supporters to remain calm, saying the party would continue taking its message to Nigerians.
“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians,” he added.
What triggered the ADC leadership dispute
Justice Lifu’s judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party after former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned.
Bala argued that, under the party’s constitution, he was entitled to assume leadership following Nwosu’s resignation rather than have a caretaker committee headed by Mark installed.
The court ruled in Bala’s favour, nullifying the Mark-led caretaker committee and decisions taken under its authority.
The ruling also affected the party’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Following the judgment, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as an attempt to weaken the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to choose their leaders.
ADC has also questioned the judgment in light of an earlier Federal High Court decision which, according to the party, affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee.
The party said it was awaiting the certified true copy of Justice Lifu’s judgment to determine the precise scope of its operative orders.
