By Kingston Magare 30.4.2026
David Mark’s faction of the African Democratic Congress got the breather it badly needed as the Supreme Court voted unanimously to vacate an order urging factions to maintain the status quo until its leadership crisis is resolved.
The Court of Appeal had ordered that both the David Mark and Nafiu Bala Gombe factions remain grounded till the leadership tussle is sorted out. It was based on this Court of Appeal ruling the Independent National Electoral Commission delisted the leadership of the ADC.
Miffed by the development David Mark had approached the Supreme Court to quash the Appeal Court ruling and on Thursday the Apex Court lifted the lid.
The five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, stated that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal went beyond its boundaries by issuing the order after it had already dismissed a case that was brought before it by one of the factions.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court declared.
The apex court directed the factions to return to the trial court for continuation of hearing of the case.
Meanwhile in another political judgement Thursday the Supreme Court dismissed the appeal filed by the Taminu Turaki-led National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) concerning the Ibadan convention.
Delivering the majority judgment on Thursday, Justice Stephen held that the national convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on November 15 and 16, last year, was in defiance of an existing judgment of the Federal High Court, delivered by Justice James Omotosho.