African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed the Federal High Court judgment that removed the National Working Committee led by former Senate President, David Mark, and urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to suspend further action on the matter pending the determination of the appeal.
Gatekeepers News reports that the party also disclosed that it had filed an application for a stay of execution of the judgment, which was delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement issued on Friday, November 6, by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, the party said it had formally notified INEC of the appeal and the application for a stay of execution.
It called on the electoral commission to exercise restraint and avoid taking decisions that could affect the outcome of the legal proceedings.
Shaibu said, “The Commission must not act as though the appeal and stay application do not exist, or take any step that could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and undermine the proper resolution of this matter.”
He added that the party expected INEC to respect the judicial process and consider the pending appeal before making any consequential decisions.
The appeal followed a ruling in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the emergence of Mark as the party’s National Chairman after the resignation of former chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Gombe had argued that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s resignation.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu nullified the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary. He also invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
The judge further directed INEC not to recognise decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025, or subsequent actions arising from it.
Meanwhile, the ADC has maintained that the legal battle would not interrupt its political activities, assuring members and supporters that its campaigns would continue.
Shaibu urged party members to remain calm, expressing confidence that the appellate court would give the issues a full hearing.
The development comes amid the party’s prolonged leadership crisis and preparations for the 2027 general elections, with the outcome of the appeal expected to have implications for its leadership structure and electoral candidates.
