The Supreme Court of Nigeria has affirmed David Mark as the leader of the African Democratic Congress, delivering a major ruling in the party’s ongoing leadership tussle.
According to reports, the apex court reached a unanimous decision through a five-member panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba. The court held that the appellate court acted improperly by issuing orders after it had already dismissed the appeal.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court ruled.
The court further noted that the appeal filed by David Mark succeeded in part, although it dismissed the aspect challenging an earlier ex parte order of the Federal High Court concerning the service of processes in the suit filed by aggrieved party members.
In a significant directive, the Supreme Court instructed all factions involved in the dispute to return to the trial court for continuation of proceedings, effectively resetting the legal contest over the party’s leadership.
Earlier, the Independent National Electoral Commission had, on April 1, removed the names of David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as National Chairman and Secretary of the ADC, respectively, citing a prior judgment of the Court of Appeal.
INEC had also maintained that, in line with preserving the status quo ante bellum, it would not recognise any faction within the party until the dispute is conclusively resolved.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is expected to reopen proceedings at the lower court, paving the way for a substantive determination of the leadership crisis within the ADC.
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