ABUJA — Despite a court order and political moves to deny it use of a venue, the Senator David Mark-led African Democratic Congress, ADC, yesterday, held its National Convention in Abuja, where leaders drawn from all parts of the country ratified the party’s constitution and processes that led to Mark’s emergence.
This is even as the Federal High Court in Abuja presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, yesterday ordered the party not to proceed with the convention, just as the Supreme Court slated April 22, to hear an appeal concerning the leadership crisis in the party.
This was as another Federal High Court in Abuja, declined to grant an application by Senator David Mark-led leadership, seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive case, in the Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit.
Gombe prayed the lower court to adjourn the case with Mark indefinitely.
One of the major highlights of the exercise was the arrival of Mallam El-Rufai who freed yesterday.
Exuding confidence, party leaders at the convention okayed the exercise as valid, noting that Nigerian’s democracy is at risk and vowed to resist moves to destroy the country’s democratic rule.
Roll call
Party leaders and topshots at the convention attended by the Chinese, British and Norwegian envoys, include former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President and current ADC National Chairman, David Mark; 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi; former Governors Aminu Tambuwal, Rotimi Amaechi, Rauf Aregbesola, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Professor Oserheimen Osunbor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and Senator Dino Melaye.
Also in attendance were former National Chairman of ADC, Ralph Nwosu; former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha; former Edo State Governor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun; former Justice Minister, Mr Abubakar Malami; and Senator Ireti Kingibe.
The national convention equally featured former governor of Ebonyi, Dr Sam Egwu; Mohammed Hayatu-Deen; former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Babachir Lawal; former NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata; former Cross River State Governors, Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke; former Imo State Governor, Chief Achike Udenwa; Chief Great Ogboru; and Kashim Imam, among others.
Threat to revoke venue licence
Earlier yesterday, the party alleged a fresh move to revoke the licence of its Abuja convention venue, warning that the action was aimed at stopping the exercise.
The party said the development suggested pressure from Federal Capital Territory authorities, despite fulfilling all payment obligations and securing the venue in advance.
ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said the owner of Rainbow Event Centre informed the party of threats from the Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA, and the FCT Minister, Nyesom.
“After paying all the fees required, setting up for our convention tomorrow, the owner of Rainbow Event Centre has just informed us that he has come under pressure from the FCDA and Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike that if he allows the ADC to use his facilities, his licence will be revoked,” Abdullahi said.
Insisting the party has a binding agreement, he added: “But we have already signed the contract with him. We will hold our convention as planned at the Rainbow Event Centre.”
ADC won’t bow to political pressure
— Mark
Speaking at the convention, which drew over 1,500 delegates to elect members of the National Working Committee for the next four years, Senator Mark declared that the ADC will not succumb to intimidation, despite mounting political pressure.
“We have made it clear that in an ever-shrinking democratic space, the ADC will not bow, will not be cowed, and we will not retreat,” he said, adding that strong political movements are forged in difficult times when citizens demand change, integrity and committed leadership.
“We will not surrender because what is at stake is not just the opposition, but the very survival of democracy in Nigeria,” he added.
According to Mark, attempts to weaken the party have instead strengthened its internal cohesion, broadened its coalition and underscored the need for a vibrant opposition.
He noted that a new generation of Nigerians is demanding accountability, transparency and leadership that aligned with their aspirations, positioning the ADC as a credible alternative platform.
Mark said the party’s mission is beyond winning power to proving that democracy can improve lives and deliver development.
He called on opposition leaders across party lines to unite in addressing the nation’s challenges, describing the task as a patriotic duty beyond partisan interests.
The former Senate President commended members for successfully conducting congresses nationwide despite challenges, noting that the party is expanding its grassroots base.
He urged newly elected leaders to uphold accountability, inclusiveness and service, emphasising that no member is above the party’s constitution.
Mark assured Nigerians that the ADC will prioritise people-centred governance and effective use of national resources.
Declaring the convention open, he expressed confidence that the party will play a defining role in Nigeria’s democratic future.
Convention ratifies NEC decisions, dissolves NWC, expels Gombe, Abejide
After speeches from stakeholders, the Convention ratified key resolutions of its 97th to 100th National Executive Committee, NEC, meetings, dissolving its National Working Committee, NWC, installing a caretaker leadership and expelling members over alleged anti-party activities.
Members expelled included Nafiu Bala Gombe and Rep Leke Abejide.
The decisions, taken between March 2025 and March 2026, signal a sweeping restructuring of the party’s leadership, membership rules and political direction.
A major highlight was the ratification of the July 29, 2025 NEC resolution dissolving the Chief Ralph Nwosu-led NWC and appointing a caretaker committee headed by Senator David Mark for 12 months to steer reforms and coalition talks.
The convention also endorsed earlier decisions to relax membership requirements—popularly known as the “two-year rule”—and suspend zoning provisions in the party’s constitution, moves aimed at broadening participation and flexibility in leadership selection.
Delegates further approved congresses conducted from polling unit to state levels, including the emergence of delegates to the national convention, as well as the party’s policy framework and draft manifesto. Aspirants were directed to align their campaigns with the adopted principles.
The resolutions were adopted through motions moved by Senators Enyinnaya Abaribe and Ireti Kingibe and passed by voice vote.
In a controversial move, the convention endorsed expulsion of some members accused of anti-party conduct and actions deemed detrimental to party unity.
Proceedings also featured proposed constitutional amendments presented by Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor, with emphasis on transparency in the voting process.
Out of 2,105 expected delegates, 1,542 were accredited, while voting on amendments was ongoing at press time.
Court orders ADC to halt national convention, maintain status quo
Earlier in the day, the Federal High Court in Abuja, presided over by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, ordered the party not to proceed with the convention.
The court, in a ruling, ordered the party to maintain the status quo ante bellum, pending hearing and determination of a suit filed before it by seven aggrieved members.
Plaintiffs in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/581/2026, said they brought the action for themselves and on behalf of all the state chairmen and the state executive committees of ADC.
Those behind the suit are Don Norman Obinna; Johnny Tovie Derek; Obah Ehigiator; Olona Yinka; Dr. Charles Idowu Omideji; Samuel Pan Gyang; and Obianyo Patrick.
Aside the ADC which was cited as the 1st defendant, all the national officers of the party, including Senator David Mark, Senator Patrick Akwashiki, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor and the Independent National Electoral Commission , INEC, were listed as 2nd to 7th defendants in the matter.
Justice Abdulmalik had before she adjourned the case until April 23 for definite hearing, ordered all the parties to file their consequential processes to enable expeditious determination of the matter.
The court held that all pending applications would be heard along with the substantive suit since the processes were all fought on affidavit evidence.
“I also order that all parties in this suit shall maintain the status quo ante bellum and shall not take further steps in this matter so as not to render nugatory the proceedings before the court.
“ I further order that the 1st to 5th defendants shall be served hearing notice for the definite hearing,” the court added.
Supreme Court shifts leaadership suit hearing to April 22
The ruling came on a day the Supreme Court slated April 22 to hear an appeal concerning the leadership crisis in the party.
A five-member panel of the apex court, headed by Justice Mohammed Garba, adjourned the appeal marked SC/CV/180/2026 for hearing after ordering the Senator Mark-led faction of the party to file and serve legal processes on all respondents within the next 24 hours.
The appeal is seeking to set aside the Court of Appeal judgment that also directed the party to maintain status quo ante bellum until the determination of another suit filed by aggrieved members of the party, led by Nafiu-Bala Gombe.
ADC convention valid, INEC
failed its duty
— Aregbesola
However, National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola, declared the convention valid, accusing the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, of abdicating its statutory responsibility by refusing to attend and monitor the exercise.
Speaking at the convention, Aregbesola defended the process, insisting that all legal requirements were met and that the absence of INEC could undermine confidence in the 2027 general elections.
“The approval of the various committees proposed by the outgoing NWC to support the Caretaker Committee during the transition period; the swearing-in of the caretaker committee; and the new executives of the party were all administered the oath of office by competent authorities at that NEC,” he said.
He maintained that the process was conducted transparently and without objections, stressing that earlier decisions, including dissolution of the former National Working Committee, NWC, had been duly communicated to INEC.
“The report of that NEC meeting was submitted to INEC by Chief Ralph Okey Nwosu and Alhaji Baba Abdullahi. It was on this basis that INEC recognised the new leadership and uploaded the principal officers on its electronic portal,” Aregbesola stated.
He dismissed claims by members of the former leadership, saying “no member, I repeat, no member of the former NWC of the ADC, therefore, has any right or claim to any office thereafter. A dead horse cannot rise again.”
On INEC’s role, Aregbesola argued that the commission is under a legal obligation to monitor party conventions once duly notified.
“The duty of attending and monitoring congresses and conventions of political parties is a mandatory one imposed on INEC by the Electoral Act… The ADC gave INEC the required 21 days’ notice through a December 2025 letter… the last one was received by INEC on March 13, 2026. As a party, we have discharged our responsibility,” he said.
Describing INEC’s absence as a breach of the law, he added: “INEC’s failure to meet its lawful duty is hereby declared an abdication of responsibility.”
Aregbesola, who further alleged bias on the part of the electoral body, said: “The decision of INEC to refuse to attend and monitor our convention amounts to dereliction of duty, bordering on a dangerously partisan outlook aimed at unlawfully delegitimising the otherwise legitimate actions of our party.
“There is no other legitimate ground… except if INEC is on a mission to destroy the ADC and pave the way for the APC to coast to victory without any serious challenge.’’
he clarified that under the law, only failure to notify INEC could invalidate a convention, a situation he said did not arise.
“I have read the order of the Court of Appeal. It did not make any reference to attending or monitoring ADC conventions,” he added.
Warning of broader implications, he said: “Democracy without opposition is autocracy. Opposition is the institutional conscience of the republic. No coronation in Nigeria.”
Gombe prays lower court to adjourn case with Mark indefinitely
Also, another Federal High Court in Abuja declined to grant an application by Senator David Mark-led ledership, seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive case, in the Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on Gombe’s request to adjourn the case indefinitely to await the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Mark, held that proceeding with the matter when the jurisdiction of the court was being challenged would amount to wrestling jurisdiction from the apex court.
Justice Nwite said though the facts of the case, as stated by both parties were not in dispute, he, however, held that “the facts are glearing that an appeal had been entered” at the apex court.
The judge also cited reliefs two and three in the motion on notice filed by Mark before the apex Court where he sought an order staying execution of the judgment of the Apeal Court and striking out the appellate court judgment delivered on March 12.
“It is trite law that where a court lacks jurisdiction to entertain a suit, no matter how beautiful the judgment is delivered, it will be a nullity,” he said, citing a previous Supreme Court decision.
“I am of the view and I so hold that it will not serve any purpose if the jurisdiction of this court is being challenged at Supreme Court and the court cannot await the Supreme Court decision”, the judge held.
The judge also disagreed with the defence counsel’s argument that since their case at the apex court was an interlocutory appeal, such could not operate to mean a stay of proceedings before the lower court.
“The interlocutory appeal may likely dispense the case before this court. So the most honourable thing to do is to await the decision of the Supreme Court,” he added.
The judge observed that though the defence argued that the Appeal Court already made an order for accelerated hearing,
Nairawatch
Naira appreciates to N1,403/$ in parallel market
By Elizabeth Adegbesan
The Naira on yesterday appreciated to N1,403 per dollar in the parallel market from N1,412 per dollar on Monday.
Similarly, the naira appreciated to N1,348 per dollar in the Nigerian Foreign Exchange Market, NFEM.
Data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, showed that the indicative exchange rate for the naira fell to N1,348 per dollar from N1,358 per dollar on Monday, reflecting N10 appreciation for the naira.
Consequently, the margin between the parallel and official markets widened to N55 per dollar from N54 per dollar on Monday.
The NFEM turnover for interbank foreign exchange market stood at N141.32 million yesterday, rising sharply by 268.9 percent from N38.3 million on Monday.