Nigerian actor-turned-lawyer and prominent African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Kenneth Okonkwo, has welcomed the Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in the case of Senator David Mark vs Nafiu Bala & Ors, describing it as a significant victory for the party’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement shared on his X (formerly Twitter) handle on Thursday, April 30, 2026, Okonkwo announced the apex court’s verdict, which set aside the Court of Appeal’s order to maintain the status quo. The ruling effectively restores the Senator David Mark-led national executive of the ADC pending the final determination of the leadership dispute at the trial court.
He wrote, “The Supreme Court’s decision was unanimous. It held that the order to maintain status quo by the Court of Appeal is set aside. The case is referred back to the trial court for determination. This means that the David Mark-led executive is restored, pending the determination of the matter at the trial court.”
The leadership crisis rocking the ADC stemmed from rival claims to the national chairmanship. While Senator David Mark, a former Senate President, assumed leadership following the resignation of previous executives and was initially recognised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nafiu Bala Gombe challenged the legitimacy of that transition in court.
The Court of Appeal’s intervening order had prompted INEC to de-recognise the Mark-led executive, creating uncertainty within the opposition party. Okonkwo, a vocal member of the ADC’s National Working Committee and legal practitioner, has consistently argued that the dispute represents an internal party affair that should be resolved through democratic processes rather than prolonged litigation…See More
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