The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission to immediately reinstate Nigeriaās main opposition party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), to the 2027 ballot.
The ruling serves as a major victory for the David Mark-led faction, which has recently emerged as a primary platform for major opposition figures like Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar ahead of the January 2027 general elections.
The apex court voided a previous “status quo ante bellum” order from the Court of Appeal that had effectively de-recognised David Markās leadership.
The court specifically ordered INEC to immediately reinstate the ADC on the 2027 ballot, reversing the electoral body’s earlier decision to delist the party following a series of conflicting lower court rulings.
While the Supreme Court cleared the way for the party to participate in the upcoming elections, it also ordered that substantive matters regarding internal disputes be returned to the Federal High Court for final determination.
The reinstatement is a pivotal moment for the Nigerian opposition, which has been coalescing under the ADC banner to challenge President Bola Tinubuās second-term bid.
Despite this victory, the party still faces internal “landmines.” Just 24 hours prior to the Supreme Court ruling, a Federal High Court in Abuja had barred INEC from recognising state congresses conducted by the Mark-led leadership, citing tenure protections for existing state executives.
The Supreme Court’s intervention is seen as a “make or mar” moment that prevents the total exclusion of the party while these internal leadership tussles continue to be litigated.
President Bola Tinubu is seeking a second term of four years and has already secured the endorsement of his ruling All Progressives Congress to stand as candidate.
Meanwhile, INEC has mandated all parties to submit registers to the electoral body by May 30, 2026.
WARNING: If You Are Not 18+, Don’t Click The Link Below šš«£Ā
https://wrathful-piano.com/zBn8jS
Did you want to monetize your website, join MONETAG or ADSKEEPER and start earningĀ
Please donāt forget to āAllow the notificationā so you will be the first to get our gist when we publish it.
Drop your comment in the section below, and donāt forget to share the post.
Never Miss A Single News Or Gist, Kindly Join Us On WhatsApp Channel:
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vad8g81Eawdsio6INn3B
Telegram Channel:
https://t.me/gistsmateNG
