Case Commentary: Supreme Court and ADC Legal Dispute

By Okoi Obono-Obla 

Case Commentary: Supreme Court and ADC Legal Dispute:
Background:
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been embroiled in a protracted legal battle involving multiple factions and contested conventions. Nafiu Bala Gombe initiated proceedings against the ADC, leading to significant judicial interventions at various levels of the Nigerian judiciary.

Supreme Court’s Decision:
The Supreme Court of Nigeria lifted the status quo bellum ante injunction previously issued by the Court of Appeal. This injunction had restrained all parties from taking further steps pending resolution. By its ruling, the Supreme Court directed the parties to return to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to conclude the substantive case.
Importantly, this decision does not resolve the underlying legal quagmire facing the ADC. The

Federal High Court Order:
On 29 April 2026, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik issued a restraining order against the Senator David Mark faction of the ADC. The order prohibited the faction from parading itself as the leadership of the party and declared the Convention held on 14 April 2026 null and void.

Implications:
Continued Uncertainty: The ADC remains in a state of legal uncertainty, with leadership and convention outcomes unsettled. It is well settled that once a matter is before a court of law and parties have submitted to its jurisdiction, none of the parties is permitted to take actions that would create hopelessness, helplessness, or render the eventual decision of the court nugatory.

Judicial Emphasis on Obedience: The rulings underscore the judiciary’s insistence that parties must respect court orders and refrain from actions that undermine judicial authority.

Return to Federal High Court:
The substantive case must now be concluded at the Federal High Court, which will play a decisive role in clarifying the party’s leadership and organizational legitimacy.

Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s intervention, while procedurally significant, does not resolve the ADC’s internal crisis. The Federal High Court’s eventual judgment will be pivotal in determining the party’s future direction and leadership structure.