The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has appealed to the Court of Appeal against a Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led leadership of the party, while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to refrain from taking any consequential action while the legal challenge remains unresolved.

According to the party, it has filed a notice of appeal against the November 5, 2026 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, along with an application seeking to suspend its execution pending the outcome of the appeal.

The development was announced in a Friday statement by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, who said the electoral commission had been formally notified of the legal steps taken.

Shaibu noted that the application for a stay of execution had not yet been decided, stressing that INEC must not behave as though the pending proceedings do not exist.

“The Commission must respect the judicial process and allow the appellate court to hear the case,” he said.

He cautioned that any action by INEC before the appeal is heard could pre-empt the Court of Appeal and jeopardise the resolution of the dispute.

The party’s lawyers, S. E. Aruwa, SAN & Co., also wrote to the INEC chairman on November 6, informing the commission of the appeal and the stay of execution application.

In the letter, the lawyers requested that INEC suspend further action on the subject matter of the suit until the appeal is determined.

The ADC, however, stated that the legal battle would not disrupt its political activities or its preparations for the 2027 general election.

“This is not the end of the road. The ADC is taking every lawful step to defend its rights, and we will not be intimidated or distracted from that responsibility,” Shaibu said.

He called on party members and supporters to stay calm and confident, adding that the party would continue to carry its message to Nigerians.

“Our campaigns continue without interruption. There is no stopping the affordability train or our mission to make life better for Nigerians,” he said.

Justice Lifu’s judgment stemmed from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who contested the emergence of Mark and other members of the caretaker committee following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Bala argued that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership after Nwosu stepped down.

The court ruled against the Mark-led leadership, nullifying the caretaker committee and its decisions, including actions connected to the party’s process for selecting its 2027 presidential candidate.

The ruling also affected the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

Reacting to the judgment, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi described the ruling as an attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the right to choose their leaders.