By Opeyemi Adelakun
The Court of Appeal in Abuja has postponed judgment in the appeal filed by former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, challenging a Federal High Court judgment that restrained the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from dissolving the party’s State Working Committees (SWCs).
The appellate court was expected to deliver its judgment on Wednesday but unexpectedly shifted the ruling to July 13, 2026.
The postponement was announced after lawyers, party members, journalists and other interested parties had waited for more than two hours for the proceedings to begin.
A court registrar informed those present that the judgment had been rescheduled for the afternoon of July 13 but did not give any reason for the last-minute adjournment.
The appeal was filed by the ADC, Mark and Aregbesola following the judgment of Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which nullified plans by the party’s interim leadership to dissolve the existing State Working Committees before the expiration of their tenure.
The suit was instituted by Don Norman Obinna, Johnny Tovie Derek, Obah C. Ehigiator, Olona Yinka, Charles Idowu Omideji, Samuel Pam Gyang and Obianyo Patrick, who sued on behalf of ADC state chairmen and members of the State Executive Committees.
The plaintiffs asked the court to interpret provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and the party’s constitution regarding the tenure of state executives and the powers of the party’s national leadership.
They argued that the four-year tenure of the State Working Committees remains valid until properly constituted state congresses and a national convention are held.
They also challenged the legality of the Caretaker/Interim National Working Committee, contending that the body is not recognised under the party’s constitution and therefore lacks the authority to appoint committees to conduct state congresses or dissolve elected state executives.
In her judgment, Justice Abdulmalik agreed with the plaintiffs and set aside the planned dissolution of the State Working Committees.
Dissatisfied with the decision, Mark, Aregbesola and other appellants approached the Court of Appeal, urging it to overturn the lower court’s judgment on the grounds that it amounted to a miscarriage of justice.
The appellate court is now expected to deliver its verdict on July 13.
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