By Chigozie Igbo Jnr
ABUJA — The Supreme Court of Nigeria has granted accelerated hearing in a politically sensitive appeal arising from the leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), fixing April 22, 2026, for definitive proceedings.
The decision followed deliberations by a five-member panel of the apex court, which directed all parties in the suit to fast-track the filing and exchange of legal processes in line with an expedited timetable.
The appeal, filed by a factional national leadership group within the ADC, challenges earlier judgments of both the Federal High Court in Abuja and the Court of Appeal, which had upheld prior rulings affecting the control and structure of the party’s leadership.
At the centre of the dispute is a faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting decisions that reshaped the party’s national leadership framework.
Court records show the appeal, registered as SC/CV/180/2026, stems from a March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed a September 4, 2025 ruling of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The lower court had declined to grant ex-parte reliefs sought in an application filed during the early phase of the internal party crisis.
In its ruling on Tuesday, the Supreme Court directed counsel to the appellant, Jibril Okutepa (SAN), to file and serve written submissions by Wednesday, while respondents were ordered to respond within three days of receipt.
The court further allowed the appellant a one-day window to file a reply brief, where necessary, after receiving responses from opposing parties.
A judicial source noted that the accelerated timeline reflects the court’s intention to ensure swift resolution of the matter, given its political significance and implications for party administration.
The ADC leadership tussle remains a closely watched political development, with the final ruling expected to determine the lawful authority over the party’s national structure ahead of future political engagements.