The leadership crisis in the African Democratic Congress, ADC, is far from over after the Supreme Court ruled that the party’s dispute must return to the High Court for further hearing.
This is the expert interpretation of renowned lawyer Jiti Ogunye, who said that the ruling means “litigation continues” and that ADC is “not yet out of troubled water.”
According to Ogunye, who was speaking on the Daily Digest with Jimi Disu on Nigeria Info 99.3FM, former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe is still challenging the legitimacy of the David Mark-led leadership, claiming the new executives were not properly elected.
He explained that David Mark and his team had argued that party leadership issues were internal matters, but the courts insisted the case must be properly heard.
“What the Supreme Court has done is to say, go back to the High Court to litigate,” Ogunye said.
He also noted that a separate Federal High Court judgment had already sacked David Mark’s leadership after state party chairmen argued they should take over instead.
This means ADC now faces multiple legal battles as it prepares for the 2027 general elections.
Ogunye warned that the uncertainty could seriously weaken the party.
“The trouble of ADC, the headache of ADC is not yet over,” he said.
He added that unless the party resolves its internal disputes quickly, it may struggle to conduct primaries and organise effectively.
“I fear they may not,” Ogunye said when asked whether ADC could survive the crisis politically.
The ruling leaves ADC’s future unclear as legal challenges continue to threaten its plans ahead of 2027.
