The African Democratic Congress (ADC) may be unable to participate in Nigeria’s 2027 general elections if a pending judgment before the Supreme Court of Nigeria is not delivered urgently, according to a formal appeal by its legal representatives.
In a letter dated April 28, 2026, addressed to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, lawyers from S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co. warned that the party faces “grave and irreversible risk” of exclusion due to unresolved leadership issues tied to an ongoing appeal.
The case, marked SC/CV/180/2026, involves David Mark versus Nafiu Bala Gombe and four others.
According to the letter, the appeal was heard on April 22, 2026, with judgment reserved for a later date yet to be communicated. However, the legal team expressed concern that delays could severely impact the party’s legal standing ahead of the elections.
The lawyers stated: “Without the delivery of judgment within the next three days from the date of this letter, the ADC stands the grave and irreversible risk of being excluded from participating in the 2027 General Elections.”
They further explained that actions taken based on a lower court ruling had already disrupted the party’s leadership structure, noting that the situation “acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment.”
The letter also highlighted the timeline set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), warning that electoral processes are already underway. “The ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements… is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment,” the lawyers added.
They cautioned that failure to resolve the matter promptly could disenfranchise millions of supporters: “This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians… and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice.”
Reacting to the development, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed concern over the broader implications for Nigeria’s democracy.
In a post on X, he wrote: “It is increasingly evident that Nigeria’s democracy, and indeed the integrity of the 2027 general elections is in serious jeopardy.”
He added: “Democracy itself is now facing an existential threat. However, I do not want to believe that the judiciary, long regarded as the last hope of the common man, would align with the ruling APC in any effort that could undermine or destroy our democratic foundations.”