Appeal Court Dismisses David Mark’s Challenge in ADC Leadership Dispute, Orders Accelerated Hearing

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has dismissed an appeal filed by former Senate President David Mark, who currently serves as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), in a legal dispute over the party’s leadership.
David Mark
 
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, a three-member panel of the appellate court led by Uchechukwu Onyemenam ruled that the appeal was incompetent and unmeritorious. The case, marked CA/ABJ/CV/145/2026, arose from a leadership tussle within the ADC and challenged an earlier decision of the Federal High Court delivered on September 4, 2025.
During proceedings, the respondent, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, through his counsel Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), argued that Mark’s appeal introduced issues that were not part of the original ruling at the lower court. The appellate panel agreed with the objection and consequently struck out the appeal.
The court also awarded ₦2 million in costs against Mark and directed that the substantive suit pending at the Federal High Court be given an accelerated hearing. To prevent further complications while the case proceeds, the panel ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the final determination of the dispute.
Although the ruling represents a setback for Mark’s position at the appellate level, the underlying leadership contest within the ADC remains unresolved. The matter will now continue before the Federal High Court, where the core issues surrounding the party’s leadership are yet to be fully determined.
The dispute comes amid a series of legal battles within the African Democratic Congress, including recent Federal High Court rulings dismissing suits filed by Dumebi Kachikwu and others challenging the Mark-led leadership on the grounds that such matters largely fall within the internal affairs of the party.

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