ABUJA, NIGERIA — The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a new twist on Friday as the Court of Appeal in Abuja dismissed an appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, over the ongoing dispute regarding the party’s national leadership .
The appeal sought to overturn an earlier decision of the Federal High Court Abuja Division delivered on September 4, 2025, by Justice Emeka Nwite. In that ruling, the court refused to grant certain injunctive reliefs contained in an ex parte application brought before it by a chieftain of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe .
Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, had approached the court with both an ex parte application and a substantive suit, contesting the legitimacy of the current leadership structure of the party. Central to his suit was a challenge to the emergence of David Mark as National Chairman and the appointment of former Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary .
In the earlier proceedings, Justice Emeka Nwite declined to grant the interim orders sought in the ex parte application, a decision that prompted Mark to file an appeal at the Court of Appeal Abuja Division .
However, in its judgment, the appellate court dismissed the appeal, effectively upholding the earlier decision of the lower court and allowing the substantive suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe to continue .
The ruling is expected to further shape the unfolding leadership contest within the African Democratic Congress, where rival factions have been laying claim to the party’s national leadership structure .
Political observers say the decision may deepen internal consultations within the party as stakeholders await the determination of the substantive suit before the court .
The leadership tussle has continued to generate debate within the African Democratic Congress, with party members and political analysts closely watching the legal battle that could ultimately determine the legitimate leadership of the party ahead of future political alignments .
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