The Supreme Court has scheduled April 22 to hear an appeal stemming from the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress.
The appeal was lodged by the party’s National Chairman, former Senate President David Mark, challenging previous court rulings related to the dispute.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the date on Tuesday after approving an accelerated hearing for the case marked SC/CV/180/2026.
The appeal contests the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal, which dismissed Mark’s earlier appeal against the September 4, 2025 judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In that earlier decision, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court declined to grant the injunctive relief sought in an ex parte application filed by a party chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the apex court directed Mark’s counsel, Jibril Okutepa, to file and serve the appellant’s brief within a shortened timeframe, in line with the accelerated hearing.
The court also ordered the respondents to submit their briefs within three days of being served, while the appellant may file a reply, if necessary, within one day of receiving the respondents’ filings.
The dispute, which has led to multiple legal battles, revolves around control and leadership of the African Democratic Congress, with rival factions contesting authority, particularly over the position of National Chairman.
