The Supreme Court has vacated the order that directed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to maintain status quo ante bellum pending the determination of its leadership crisis.
Hence, the leadership of David Mark is now a recognizable leadership might be set to lead the opposition party to the 2027 elections, playing a huge opposition role against incumbent All Progressive Congress.
This might come to the fore in the trial courts if ruled in David Mark’s favour as the Supreme Court as sent the case back to trial courts.
The Supreme Court, ruling ruled unanimously in a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, affirmed that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal acted beyond its jurisdiction by unilaterally issuing such an order after it had already dismissed a case brought before it by one of the factions.
The Supreme Court ruled that “giving such an injunction in an appeal it had previously dismissed was superfluous, unjustified, and improper.”
The order that instructed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to preserve the status quo ante bellum until its leadership crisis was resolved has then been revoked by the Supreme Court.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court held.
It ruled that Senator David Mark’s appeal was partially successful, but it rejected the part that contested the Federal High Court’s ex parte decision for the delivery of procedures in the lawsuit brought by disgruntled party members.
The parties were then instructed by the Supreme Court to return to the trial court so that the case may continue to be heard.
Recall that on April 1, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) deleted Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its website and portal as ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, citing the ruling of the Court of Appeal.
In accordance with the directive to maintain the status quo ante bellum, the electoral body had declared that it would not acknowledge any of the opposing groups until the legal matter was resolved.
David Mark-led ADC leadership
Recall that the national convention of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) had gone ahead as planned amidst orders by INEC to strike it out. The party had kicked against it, characterizing INEC’s stance as a deliberate distortion of the Court of Appeal’s directive. In advance of the exercise which later held in Abuja, the party published revised rosters of its convention committee and subcommittees.
