ADC Petitions Nigerian Chief Justice, Warns Of “Irreparable Harm” As Supreme Court Delays Ruling In Party Dispute
ADC Petitions Nigerian Chief Justice, Warns Of “Irreparable Harm” As Supreme Court Delays Ruling In Party Dispute
However, the legal team expressed concern over delays, noting that they were “most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously.”
The counsel to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., has formally petitioned the Chief Justice of Nigeria, urging urgent intervention in a pending Supreme Court judgment that could determine the political fate of the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a letter dated Tuesday, April 28, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria at the Supreme Court in Abuja, the firm —.acting as counsel to the ADC, which is the 2nd Respondent in Suit No: SC/CV/180/2026 involving David Mark versus Nafiu Bala Gombe and four others — made what it described as “a passionate plea for the timely delivery of the judgment… to forestall the impending irreparable harm” to the party’s constitutional rights.
The correspondence was signed by Shaibu Enejo Aruwa, SAN, on behalf of the firm.
The counsel stated, “We are Counsel to the African Democratic Congress, ADC, the 2nd Respondent in the above mentioned Appeal.” The letter recalled that “this appeal was graciously heard expeditiously on the 22nd April, 2026 and judgment was thereafter reserved to a date to be communicated by the court.”
However, the legal team expressed concern over delays, noting that they were “most respectfully constrained to request for my Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously.”
The urgency of the appeal, according to the lawyers, stems from actions taken by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), identified as the 4th Respondent in the case. The letter alleged that INEC, “acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court in Appeal No: CA/ABJ/145/2026 acted to remove or de-recognise the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment even though the ADC remains a recognised registered political party in Nigeria.”
The firm warned that the development has placed the party in a precarious position as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace. It drew attention to “the INEC Timetable for the 2027 General Elections and the activities in readiness which have already commenced,” adding that relevant documents, including the commission’s press release and revised timetable, were attached to the correspondence.
Highlighting the potential consequences of further delay, the lawyers stated, “The ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant Appeal.”
They further cautioned that “without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.”
According to the firm, such an outcome “would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
While acknowledging the demands on the Supreme Court, the counsel noted, “We are mindful of the enormous responsibilities and workload of this Honourable Court.” Nonetheless, they stressed the urgency of the matter, adding that “justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied.”
In an expanded and more forceful conclusion, the legal team underscored the far-reaching implications of the delay, framing the matter not merely as an internal party dispute but as a constitutional issue with national democratic consequences.
The letter stressed that “the entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance,” warning that any further delay could trigger a chain reaction affecting party structures, candidate nominations, and compliance with electoral guidelines set by INEC.
The counsel argued that the situation has transcended routine judicial timelines, as the ADC’s operational capacity, leadership legitimacy, and ability to engage in pre-election activities remain effectively paralysed pending the Supreme Court’s pronouncement.
They implied that a delayed judgment could render any eventual decision practically ineffective if key electoral deadlines lapse in the interim.
Reiterating their appeal, the lawyers expressed confidence in the judiciary’s role as the final arbiter of justice, stating that they “look forward for Your Lordships kind intervention,” while emphasising that timely judicial action would not only preserve the rights of the ADC but also reinforce public confidence in Nigeria’s legal system and democratic processes.
There have been apprehension on the ruling of the Supreme Court in the dispute within the African Democratic Congress.
