The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been plunged into further uncertainty following a court ruling that halted the National Convention scheduled to hold today, Tuesday, April 14, 2026.
The ruling was issued by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the court ruling that halted the National Convention of the ADC comes at a critical time when the party sought to unify its leadership and solidify its platform ahead of upcoming electoral cycles.
The court’s decision follows weeks of escalating tension within the party’s hierarchy. Multiple factions have been locked in a bitter struggle for control, leading to conflicting claims over the legitimacy of the convention’s organizing committee.
However, in her ruling, Justice Abdulmalik ordered the party to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the hearing and determination of a suit filed before it by seven aggrieved members.
Plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, said they brought the action for themselves and on behalf of all the State Chairmen and the State Executive Committees of ADC.
Those behind the suit are Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah Ehigiator, Hon. Olona Yinka, Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pan Gyang, and Obianyo Patrick.
Aside from the ADC which was cited as the 1st defendant, all the national officers of the party; Senator David Mark, Senator Patrick Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, and the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, were listed as 2nd to 7th defendants in the matter.
Justice Abdulmalik had before she adjourned the case until April 23 for a definite hearing, ordered all the parties to file their consequential processes to enable expeditious determination of the matter.
The court held that all pending applications would be heard along with the substantive suit since the processes are all fought on affidavit evidence.
“I also order that all parties in this suit shall maintain the status quo ante bellum and shall not take further steps in this matter so as not to render nugatory the proceedings before the Court.
“I further order that the 1st to 5th defendants shall be served with a hearing notice for the definite hearing,” the court added.
The ruling came on a day the Supreme Court slated April 22 to hear an appeal concerning the leadership crisis in the party.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, adjourned the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026 for hearing after ordering the Senator Mark-led faction of the party to file and serve legal processes on all respondents within the next 24 hours.
Recall also that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had derecognised the Mark-led leadership citing a court ruling.
The appeal is seeking to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment that also directed the party to maintain status quo ante bellum until the determination of another suit that was filed by aggrieved members of the party led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.
Meanwhile, the ADC had earlier maintained that it would hold its national convention against all odds.
