ADC Leadership Crisis: What David Mark’s Supreme Court Appeal Actually Asks For — And Why Followers Are Being Misled

There’s a big gap between what David Mark’s faction is telling supporters and what they actually filed at the Supreme Court. Let’s break it down with facts, court records, and legal reality.

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1. The Spin vs. The Filing: “SC Will Settle Everything” Is False

What Mark’s camp tells followers*:  

“The Supreme Court judgment will settle all disputes in the ADC leadership tussle. Once we win, everything is resolved.”

What the Notice of Appeal actually asks for: 

From the filings and March 12 Court of Appeal judgment, Mark’s appeal seeks only 2 reliefs:  

1. Stay of Execution: An order to suspend the Court of Appeal’s March 12, 2026 judgment. That CA judgment dismissed Mark’s appeal and reinforced that _all parties must maintain status quo ante bellum_.  

2. Jurisdiction Challenge: A declaration that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to hear Nafiu Bala Gombe’s suit because it is an “internal party affair.”

What’s NOT in the appeal*  

1. No prayer to validate Mark’s congresses or national convention.  

2. No prayer to declare Mark the authentic National Chairman.  

3. No prayer to set aside Gombe’s claims on the merits.  

Legal reality: Even if Mark wins 100%, the Supreme Court would only:  

a) Pause the CA judgment, and/or  

b) Say FHC shouldn’t hear Gombe’s case.  

It would not legalize the congresses,  not validate the convention, and not end the leadership dispute. Those are separate issues with separate suits. It will be of no relevance effect on today's judgement at the Federal High court because it was a different issue and was not part of what was appealed to the Supreme Court.

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2. The “Status Quo Ante Bellum” Order They Ignored*

March 12, 2026 — Court of Appeal ruled*:  

_“All parties shall maintain status quo ante bellum. None of the parties shall do anything that will render the suit at the Federal High Court nugatory.”_

Legal meaning: Go back to how things were _before_ the fight started. Don’t hold new congresses. Don’t run a convention. Don’t change the EXCO list. Let the court decide first.

What Mark’s faction did:  

Held Ward, LGA, State congresses and a National Convention anyway.  

Consequence: That’s why Justice [name redacted pending CTC] of the FHC just nullified all those congresses. The court held they were done in _flagrant disobedience_ of the CA order.  

Abuse of court process doctrine: Amaechi v. INEC (2008) — “A party who foists a fait accompli on the court will not be heard to complain.”_ You can’t disobey an order, then ask the same court to protect what you built by disobedience.

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3. Today’s FHC Judgment Is a Separate Legal Bomb — Not Covered by SC Appeal*

The FHC judgment you referenced deals with:  

1. Illegality of congresses held while tenure of incumbents had not expired.  

2. Lack of power: ADC Constitution says only State EXCOs conduct Ward/LGA congresses — not David Mark’s NEC.  

3. INEC restrained from recognizing Mark’s EXCO or candidates from those congresses.  

Why this matters: Mark’s Supreme Court appeal does _not_ touch this judgment. It wasn’t even delivered when he filed. You can’t “stay” a judgment that doesn’t exist yet.  

So even if SC grants Mark a stay on March 12 CA judgment, _today’s FHC judgment still stands_. His state structures remain nullified. INEC still can’t deal with him.

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4. The Jurisdiction Argument: “Political Party Matter” Has Limits

Mark’s argument*: FHC can’t hear Gombe’s suit because party leadership is an internal affair. Cites _Onuoha v. Okafor_.  

The exception that kills it: _PDP v. Sylva_ (2012) — Courts _will_ intervene when a party breaches its own constitution.  

Gombe’s claim:  

1. ADC Constitution: Deputy National Chairman takes over if Chairman resigns. Gombe was bypassed.  

2. Article 17: 2 years membership required for NWC. Most of Mark’s team fail this.  

Those are _constitutional breaches_, not “who should be chairman.” Courts have jurisdiction. _APC v. Marafa_ confirms it. So Mark’s jurisdiction ground is weak.

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5. 3 Hard Facts Followers Aren’t Being Told

What Followers Hear Legal Reality Why It Matters for 2027

**“SC will declare Mark winner”** SC can only rule on *stay + jurisdiction*. It won’t declare anyone chairman. No EXCO validation = No INEC recognition

**“Gombe’s case will die”** Even if FHC loses jurisdiction, Gombe can refile at State High Court or NEC. Dispute continues. Crisis continues into primaries

**“Congresses are valid”** FHC already nullified them. SC appeal doesn’t cover that judgment. No valid delegates = No valid primaries

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Bottom Line: The Deceit Playbook

1. David Mark filed a narrow appeal asking for stay + jurisdiction.  

2. But telling followers it’s a “total victory” appeal that will end all disputes.  

3. Hope the base doesn’t read court papers.  

4. Continue acting as if no court order exists*, then cry “witch-hunt” when FHC voids everything.  

Supreme Court precedent is brutal here: _Gov of Lagos State v. Ojukwu_ (1986) — _“No one is above the law. Court orders must be obeyed, no matter how unpalatable.”_  

Practical effect: David Mark can win at SC on Thursday and still be National Chairman of nothing. If your Ward, LGA, and State congresses are void, you have no delegates. No delegates = no convention. No convention = no candidates.  

Final question for ADC members: If your leaders truly believed the SC would “settle everything,” why did they disobey the Court of Appeal and run congresses before SC even heard the case?. MY TAKE: ATIKU ,AREGBE AND OTHERS ARE FINISHED,ADC PROBLEM HAS JUST STARTED!!!.