Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the protracted leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress, a decision that leaves the party’s eligibility for the 2027 general elections in significant jeopardy. A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, heard final arguments on Wednesday but did not provide a specific date for the verdict.

The legal battle stems from an appeal filed by the faction led by former Senate President David Mark, which seeks to set aside a March 12 Court of Appeal ruling that effectively derecognized his leadership structure. This delay is critical because all registered political parties must submit their membership registers to the Independent National Electoral Commission by May 10 to qualify for candidate sponsorship in the 2027 polls.

The situation for the African Democratic Congress is particularly dire because it is currently fractured into three distinct factions led by Senator David Mark, Nafiu Bala Gombe, and  Ogga Temitope. Following the appellate court’s order to maintain the status quo ante bellum, the electoral commission withdrew recognition from all competing groups, leaving the party without an officially sanctioned national leadership.

While the Peoples Democratic Party faces its own internal crises, it remains operational under a national executive recognized by the commission. In contrast, the African Democratic Congress faces total exclusion from the ballot if a definitive judicial pronouncement is not delivered within the narrow 18-day window remaining before the statutory deadline.

Further complicating the party’s future are the intense rivalries and mutual expulsions between the factions. The David Mark-led group recently announced the expulsion of Nafiu Bala Gombe and several other members for alleged anti-party activities, while Gombe continues to assert that he is the authentic chairman and has staged protests at the commission’s headquarters.

With the commission refusing to engage with any group until the court determines the rightful leadership, the party lacks the legal certainty required to issue the mandatory 21-day notice for primary elections or conduct any recognized congresses. This administrative paralysis means that even if a judgment is delivered shortly before the deadline, the party may still struggle to meet the rigorous logistical requirements for election eligibility.