Abuja, FCT, NIGERIA — Legal counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has filed a formal and urgent petition to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), pleading for the immediate delivery of the judgment in Suit No: SC/CV/180/2026.
The letter, authored by Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, SAN, warns that the party faces “irreparable harm” and potential exclusion from the 2027 General Elections if the Supreme Court does not act within the next 72 hours.
The appeal, which pits Senator David Mark against Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and four others, was heard on April 22, 2026, with judgment reserved. However, the ADC remains in a state of leadership paralysis after INEC (the 4th Respondent) moved to de-recognize the party’s executive following a contentious lower court ruling in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026.
Okay News reports that while the ADC remains a registered entity, it currently lacks the recognized leadership necessary to meet the strict statutory deadlines set by the INEC 2027 Timetable.
The Race Against the INEC Clock
The petition highlights that INEC activities for the 2027 polls have already commenced. Under the revised timetable, party primaries and the resolution of disputes must be concluded by May 30, 2026. Aruwa, SAN argues that without a leadership structure restored by a Supreme Court verdict by the end of this week, the ADC will be unable to conduct valid primaries, effectively disenfranchising millions of members and candidates across Nigeria.
“Justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied,” the letter states, emphasizing that the political future of the party hangs in the balance. The ADC legal team insists that the constitutional right to associate and contest is being held hostage by the administrative vacuum created by the lower court’s judgment.
As of Tuesday evening, the Supreme Court has yet to announce a specific date for the delivery of the judgment. With the April 30 deadline for several internal party administrative filings fast approaching, the legal and political community in Abuja is watching closely to see if the CJN will issue a special directive to fast-track the ruling.
