The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that removed the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party.
It consequently asked the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend further action on the leadership dispute pending the determination of the appeal.
Politics Nigeria reports that the party also disclosed that it had filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu.
The ADC made the disclosure in a letter dated November 6, addressed to INEC Chairman and signed by its counsel, S. E. Aruwa.
In the letter, the party confirmed that it had filed a Notice of Appeal at the Court of Appeal, alongside a Motion on Notice seeking to suspend the execution of the judgment pending the hearing and determination of the appeal.
It said the electoral commission had been formally notified of the pending legal processes, noting that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be heard by the Federal High Court.
“We therefore, write to bring to your attention that the Plaintiff (Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe) is aware of the appeal filed by the 1st Defendant (African Democratic Congress (ADC)) as well as the Motion on Notice for Stay of Execution,” the letter stated.
The party consequently urged INEC to refrain from taking further steps on the subject of the suit until the appellate court determines the matter.
“In view of the foregoing, we enjoined the Commission to stay further action on the subject matter of the suit pending the hearing and determination of the appeal now pending at the Court of Appeal,” it added.
The ADC’s appeal followed Thursday’s judgment by Justice Lifu, which nullified the emergence of Mark as the party’s National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, alongside other appointments and decisions made by the interim leadership.
Recall that the court had ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party (North-East), who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led interim National Working Committee (NWC) after the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Gombe had argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s resignation, rather than the appointment of a caretaker committee headed by Mark.
Upholding his argument, the judge invalidated decisions taken under the disputed leadership, including the party’s presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for the 2027 general election and other nominations.
Justice Lifu also directed INEC not to recognise decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
The ruling effectively restored Gombe’s claim to the party’s national leadership, throwing the ADC’s leadership structure and preparations for the 2027 general election into fresh uncertainty.
Meanwhile, Atiku has rejected the court ruling, insisting that he will remain in the race for the 2027 presidential election.
Atiku, in a statement issued on Friday, said the judgment nullifying the David Mark-led leadership of the party and his presidential nomination should not be mistaken for the will of Nigerians.
“Let no one mistake the latest court ruling for the will of the Nigerian people. No manipulation, conjecture or concoction can erase our place in this contest, silence our campaign or deny Nigerians the right to choose their future,” he said.
“We are on the ballot, and the people must be allowed to decide.”
