The Supreme Court of Nigeria has reserved judgment in the appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, over the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress.
Justice Mohammed Garba, who led a five-member panel of the apex court, on Wednesday fixed the matter for judgment after parties adopted their final written addresses.
Mark, who leads a faction of the party, is challenging the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered parties to maintain the status quo.
According to Mark, the appellate court exceeded its jurisdiction and insisted that the crisis bordered on internal party affairs, which courts lack powers to adjudicate.
Another faction led by Nafiu Bala Gombe is contesting the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership of the party.
The ADC National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and a former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu are the other respondents in the case
Mark is also seeking an order restraining INEC from recognising any leadership other than his faction, pending the determination of the appeal.
However, Gombe told the apex court to dismiss the appeal, saying the lower court was properly seized of the matter.
Following the dispute, the INEC has deleted the names of the contending leaders from its portal and declined to recognise any faction until the legal battle is resolved.
