Supreme Court Upholds ADC Leadership Ahead of 2027 Elections

On April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court of Nigeria delivered a split judgment, affirming the leadership of David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and dismissing an appeal from the Tanimu Turaki-led faction of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). The court's decision, which was a 3-2 ruling, was celebrated by ADC supporters, as it cleared the way for the party's participation in the upcoming 2027 general elections.

The Supreme Court found that the lower court had improperly raised issues regarding a preservatory order without a request from the parties involved. Justice Moham Garba, who led the judgment, stated that the trial court should control proceedings and that the appeal court's actions were unnecessary.

The ruling reinstated ADC's leadership on the INEC portal, allowing Mark's faction to proceed with organizing primaries to select candidates for the elections. The case stemmed from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala against Mark's leadership, accusing it of hijacking party structures.