The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Wednesday reserved judgment in an appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, over the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress.
A five-member panel of the apex court, led by Justice Mohammed Garba, fixed the matter for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses.
Mark, who leads a faction of the party, is challenging the March 12 ruling of the Court of Appeal of Nigeria, which directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the resolution of the dispute.
In his appeal, the former Senate President argued that the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction. He maintained that the disagreement revolves around internal party affairs, which courts generally lack the authority to adjudicate.
The suit was originally filed by aggrieved party members led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership of the party.
Other respondents in the case include the ADC, its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and a former national chairman of the party, Ralph Nwosu.
Mark is also seeking an order restraining the electoral body from recognising any leadership other than his faction until the appeal is determined.
However, the respondents urged the Supreme Court to dismiss the appeal, insisting that the lower court properly assumed jurisdiction over the matter.
The leadership dispute has already prompted regulatory action from INEC, which removed the names of the contending leaders from its portal and declined to recognise any faction until the legal battle is resolved.
