The Supreme Court has vacated the order directing the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to maintain status quo ante bellum in its ongoing leadership dispute, effectively restoring the leadership led by Senator David Mark.
In a unanimous judgment delivered by a five-member panel headed by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba, the apex court held that the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal acted outside its jurisdiction by issuing the order after it had already dismissed the case before it.
“Giving such an order in an appeal it had already dismissed was unnecessary, unwarranted and improper,” the Supreme Court ruled.
The court noted that the appeal filed by Mark succeeded in part, although it dismissed the aspect challenging an ex parte order issued by the Federal High Court for service of processes in the suit initiated by aggrieved party members.
The apex court further directed all parties involved in the dispute to return to the trial court for the continuation of proceedings.
The development follows an earlier decision by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from its portal as the ADC National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, citing the Court of Appeal’s ruling.
INEC had also stated that it would not recognise any faction of the party pending the resolution of the legal dispute, in line with the now-vacated order maintaining the status quo.
The latest ruling is expected to reshape the internal leadership dynamics within the ADC as the case returns to the lower court for further hearing.
