The African Democratic Congress says it has appealed a Federal High Court judgment that invalidated its Mark-led caretaker committee and related party decisions. Its request that INEC take no further action is still pending: the party’s notice of appeal and letter to the commission do not, on their own, establish that the judgment has been stayed.
By A1NEWS International
ABUJA, Nigeria — November 7, 2026
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken its challenge to a Federal High Court ruling on the party’s leadership to the Court of Appeal, asking the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from taking consequential action while the appeal is being considered.
The party says it filed a notice of appeal against a judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu. It has also applied for a stay of execution pending the appeal’s determination, according to a statement issued Friday by Phrank Shaibu, director of strategic communication for the ADC Presidential Campaign Council.
The distinction is significant: the ADC says its stay application has not yet been determined. Its appeal and notice to INEC do not, by themselves, show that the court has suspended the judgment.
ADC asks INEC to wait for appellate court
Shaibu said INEC had been formally informed of the appeal and the pending application. He urged the commission not to act as though the proceedings were concluded, arguing that any steps taken before the Court of Appeal hears the matter could pre-empt the appellate process.
The party’s lawyers, S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., wrote to INEC Chairman on November 6, asking the commission to suspend further action on the subject of the suit until the appeal is decided.
The statement did not specify which particular steps the ADC believes INEC might take, or whether the commission has responded to the request. The central unresolved question is whether the appellate court will grant a stay—and what practical effect the High Court ruling will have while the appeal proceeds.
Dispute concerns leadership succession
The case was brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East. He challenged the emergence of David Mark and other members of a caretaker committee after former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu resigned.
Bala argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s departure. The Federal High Court ruled against the Mark-led leadership and nullified the caretaker committee and its decisions, according to the account provided by the party.
The ruling also affected actions connected to the ADC’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate.
2027 preparations continue, party says
Despite the judgment, the ADC says it will continue its political activities and preparations for the 2027 general election. Shaibu urged party members and supporters to remain calm, saying the party would pursue its legal options while continuing its campaign activities.
ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi separately condemned the ruling, describing it as an attempt to weaken the opposition and limit Nigerians’ choice of leaders. That characterization is the party’s political response; the court’s written reasoning and the grounds of appeal will be central to the next stage of the dispute.
Legal and electoral questions remain open
The dispute has consequences beyond the party’s internal leadership contest. Until the appeal and stay application are addressed, questions remain over who can validly act for the ADC, which decisions of the caretaker committee remain in effect, and how the ruling may affect preparations for the party’s 2027 presidential nomination.
INEC’s position and any subsequent court orders are therefore likely to be closely watched. The material provided for this report does not include a response from the commission or from Bala Gombe.
The ADC has moved its challenge to the Court of Appeal and is pressing INEC not to act while the case is pending. But the appeal has not yet resolved the leadership dispute, and the party itself says its application to suspend the judgment remains undecided. The next critical development will be the appellate court’s decision on that application and, ultimately, its ruling on the merits of the appeal.
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