The Supreme Court has declined to endorse any faction in the ongoing leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), directing parties to return to the trial court for further proceedings.
The clarification was made on Thursday by Dumebi Kachikwu, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, in a statement responding to the court’s ruling.
According to Kachikwu, the Supreme Court’s decision to set aside a “status quo ante bellum” order means that neither faction has been recognised as the party’s legitimate leadership.
On Thursday, the court held that such preservative orders cannot remain in place once proceedings have concluded.
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In the lead judgment, Justice Mohammed Garba stated that courts may issue preservative orders only where there is an ongoing matter to protect.
Garba added that the appeal before the court was incompetent because it did not arise from a decision granting or refusing an injunction.
Kachikwu said the ruling allows both sides to continue their claims while the lower court determines the matter.
“The Supreme Court has not directed INEC to recognise the David Mark-led group,” he stated.
He also referenced a related Federal High Court ruling by Justice Joyce Abdulmalik, which he said indicated that neither faction could currently lay claim to the party structure.