By CoolNews Nigeria Reporter, Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another dramatic turn on Thursday after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the return of Senator as National Chairman of the party.
Following the apex court’s decision, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) restored the names of Mark and other members of the party’s National Working Committee on its official portal.
Also reinstated was former Osun State Governor, , who is listed as the party’s National Secretary.
What Happened?
The crisis began after a legal dispute emerged over who should control the ADC leadership.
Earlier in April, INEC removed the names of the David Mark-led executives from its records after a Court of Appeal ordered parties to maintain the “status quo ante bellum” pending the determination of the case.
In simple terms, “status quo ante bellum” means “return to the way things were before the dispute started.”
That order temporarily affected the recognition of the Mark-led leadership structure.
However, the Supreme Court has now stepped in and ruled that the Appeal Court’s order could no longer stand because the proceedings connected to it had already been concluded.
What Did the Supreme Court Actually Say?
The Supreme Court did not finally decide who permanently controls the ADC.
Instead, the court said:
- The Court of Appeal was wrong to keep the “status quo” order alive after the related proceedings had ended.
- Since that order had expired in effect, there was no legal basis for INEC to continue refusing recognition to the Mark-led executives.
- The main case challenging the legitimacy of the ADC leadership should now return to the Federal High Court for full hearing.
Implications
1. David Mark Has Been Restored — For Now
INEC has officially returned his name and those of his team to its records.
That means the Mark-led executives are presently recognised by INEC.
2. The Leadership Battle Is NOT Over
The Supreme Court did not give final judgment on who truly owns or controls the ADC.
The substantive case is still pending before the Federal High Court.
3. The Supreme Court Mainly Corrected Procedure
The apex court focused more on legal procedure than party politics.
It held that the earlier Appeal Court order should not continue indefinitely after the stage of the case it was meant for had already ended.
4. INEC Had No Choice
Once the Supreme Court removed the legal obstacle, INEC had to restore the names of the affected officials.
Why This Judgment Matters Politically
The ruling is being seen as a major victory for the David Mark faction at a time political alignments ahead of the 2027 elections are beginning to gather momentum.
Political observers believe control of party structures will become increasingly important as opposition figures continue consultations across party lines.
For now, the ADC leadership under David Mark has regained official recognition, but the final chapter of the legal battle is yet to be written.
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