The Court of Appeal in Abuja has reserved judgment in the David Mark Aregbesola appeal, a legal challenge arising from the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
According to Daily Post, the appellate court took the decision after hearing and adopting the final written addresses filed by lawyers representing all parties. However, the three-member panel did not fix a date for the judgment. Instead, the justices said the parties would be informed when the verdict is ready.
The appeal followed an earlier judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, which declined to interfere in the leadership structure of the ADC. The lower court held that the dispute bordered on the internal affairs of the political party and therefore fell outside its jurisdiction.
The case centres on the appointments of former Senate President David Mark as the party’s interim National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the interim National Secretary. Their emergence in the party leadership sparked legal action that eventually reached the Court of Appeal.
During the hearing, counsel for the appellants urged the appellate court to set aside the Federal High Court’s decision. They argued that the trial court failed to properly consider the issues raised before it and wrongly dismissed the suit.
The appellants also maintained that the dispute went beyond the party’s internal affairs. Therefore, they asked the Court of Appeal to examine the substance of their claims and grant all the reliefs sought in the appeal.
Meanwhile, lawyers representing David Mark, Aregbesola and the ADC opposed the appeal. They insisted that the Federal High Court correctly interpreted the law before delivering its judgment.
The respondents further argued that the lower court acted within the law by declining jurisdiction. In addition, they urged the appellate court to dismiss the appeal and affirm the earlier judgment in its entirety.
After listening to arguments from both sides, the Court of Appeal reserved judgment and announced that the date for its decision would be communicated to all parties in due course.
The outcome of the David Mark Aregbesola appeal is expected to determine whether the Federal High Court’s ruling will stand or be overturned. Consequently, political observers are closely monitoring the case because of its implications for the ADC’s leadership.
In recent months, the party has attracted growing attention as it seeks to strengthen its internal structure and expand its political influence. As a result, the leadership dispute has become one of the most closely watched legal battles involving the opposition party.
Although the appeal remains pending, David Mark and Aregbesola will continue to serve in their interim leadership positions unless the Court of Appeal rules otherwise. For now, the existing leadership arrangement remains valid.
Furthermore, legal experts believe the judgment could provide greater clarity on the extent to which courts can intervene in the internal affairs of political parties. The ruling may also serve as a reference in similar disputes involving party leadership across the country.
For now, all parties await the appellate court’s final decision. Until then, the legal contest over the ADC leadership remains unresolved, while the party continues its activities under its current interim officials.
The judgment is expected to attract significant political attention because it involves two prominent figures in the ADC. Regardless of the outcome, the decision could shape the party’s leadership and influence its preparations ahead of future political activities.
