Appeal Court Reschedules Judgment in ADC Leadership Dispute to July 13

The Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal has postponed its judgment in the legal battle involving African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola over the party’s State Working Committees (SWCs).

The appellate court had initially scheduled the ruling for Wednesday but unexpectedly deferred it to Monday, July 13, without providing any reason for the change.

Lawyers, journalists and party supporters had already gathered in court and waited for more than two hours before a court registrar announced that the judgment would no longer be delivered as planned.

The appeal challenges an earlier ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja, where Justice Joyce Abdulmalik restrained the ADC leadership from dissolving the party’s State Working Committees before the expiration of their four-year tenure.

The suit was filed by several ADC state chairmen, who approached the court on behalf of themselves and other state executive committees. They argued that their tenure remains valid until properly conducted State Congresses and a National Convention are held in accordance with the party’s constitution.

In her earlier judgment, Justice Abdulmalik nullified the proposed dissolution of the State Working Committees by the party’s national leadership, effectively preserving the existing state structures.

Dissatisfied with the decision, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and the ADC filed separate appeals seeking to overturn the ruling.

The Court of Appeal is now expected to deliver its judgment on July 13, a decision that could have significant implications for the party’s internal leadership structure and ongoing organisational reforms.