Dare Babalola
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Shaibu Enejoh Aruwa, has written to the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, urging urgent intervention over the delayed judgment in a Supreme Court case involving the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
In the letter dated April 28, 2026, Aruwa, who said he represents the ADC as the 2nd Respondent in the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026: Senator David Mark v. Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe & 4 Ors, appealed for the timely delivery of judgment to prevent what he described as “irreparable harm” to the party’s constitutional right to participate in the 2027 general elections.
According to the senior lawyer, the appeal was heard by the apex court on April 22, 2026, after which judgment was reserved for a later date yet to be communicated.
He, however, expressed concern that the delay may jeopardize the party’s ability to meet critical timelines set by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He stated, “We are most respectfully constrained to request for My Lord’s kind intervention and directive in ensuring that the judgment is rendered timeously, having regard that INEC purportedly acting pursuant to the judgment of the lower court acted to remove or de-recognize the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, leaving the ADC without leadership at the moment.”
Aruwa further noted that although the ADC remains a registered political party, its current leadership vacuum could prevent it from carrying out statutory obligations required for participation in the next elections.
He added, “The ADC’s ability to comply with these statutory requirements to participate in the 2027 General Elections is wholly dependent on the timely delivery of the judgment in the instant appeal.”
Warning of dire consequences, the SAN said failure to deliver judgment within the next three days could effectively shut the party out of the electoral process.
“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,” he wrote.
He argued that such a development would not only affect the party but also millions of Nigerians who identify with the ADC.
“This would disenfranchise millions of Nigerians who have subscribed to the ideals of the ADC and deny them their constitutional right to freely associate and contest elections through a political party of their choice,” the letter stated.
Aruwa acknowledged the workload of the Supreme Court but stressed that the circumstances required urgent attention.
He said, “We are equally aware that justice delayed, in this peculiar circumstance, would amount to justice denied. The entire political future of our client and the legitimate expectations of its members nationwide now hangs in the balance.”
The letter was formally received at the Office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
