The Court of Appeal in Abuja has rescheduled its judgment for July 13 regarding the leadership dispute within the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The appeal was filed by the party’s National Chairman, David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, following a Federal High Court ruling that prevented them from dissolving the party’s State Working Committees.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Unexpected Delay: Although the judgment was originally set for Wednesday, it was postponed at the last minute without an official explanation provided, despite lawyers, journalists, and politicians waiting in the courtroom for over two hours. A court registrar announced that the verdict would be delivered on the afternoon of July 13.

• Background of the Dispute: The conflict began when several ADC state chairmen filed a suit to prevent the national leadership from prematurely ending the four-year tenure of state officers. The plaintiffs, representing various state executive committees, argued that their tenure remains valid until properly constituted congresses and a national convention are held.

• Federal High Court Ruling: Justice Joyce Abdulmalik previously ruled in favor of the state chairmen, voiding the national leadership’s plans to dissolve the committees.

• Current Legal Challenge: By appealing this decision, the ADC, Mark, and Aregbesola are asking the appellate court to overturn the lower court’s ruling and determine if the national leadership possesses the authority to dissolve existing state structures before the four-year tenure expires.

President Bola Tinubu has formally notified the House of Representatives that he will not grant assent to two specific bills. In letters read by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas during Wednesday’s plenary, the President outlined his reasons for rejecting the following:....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply Management of Nigeria (Amendment) Bill, 2026: While noting that many amendments were positive, the President argued that several clauses improperly granted the institute regulatory authority over private and incorporated entities. He emphasized that the institute is not the national regulator for procurement practices and cannot legally compel independent organizations to adhere to reporting, inspection, or penalty requirements.

  • Raw Materials Research and Development Council (Amendment) Bill, 2026: The President withheld approval due to drafting defects and structural errors, noting that the bill’s long title failed to accurately represent its core objectives.

  Additionally, President Tinubu has submitted two new executive bills for the House to consider:

  • National Senior Secondary Education Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2026: This bill, which aims to improve the governance and administration of public senior secondary education, was vetted by the Federal Ministry of Justice and approved by the Federal Executive Council on April 30, 2026.

  • Administration of Criminal Justice Bill, 2026: Designed to replace the 2015 Act, this legislation aims to overhaul the criminal justice system by addressing inefficiencies in investigations, prosecutions, and institutional coordination. Key reforms include:

    • Implementing new admissibility procedures for confessional statements to abolish trial-within-trial proceedings.

    • Establishing a national sex offenders register and a Witness Support Fund.

    • Introducing mandatory timelines for no-case submissions and utilizing written witness depositions to accelerate trials.

    • Restructuring the Administration of Criminal Justice Monitoring Council and appointing an Executive Secretary.

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has issued a directive prohibiting all state chapters and party officials from engaging legal counsel for party-related matters without explicit, written permission from the national headquarters. Additionally, the party has warned that state-level officers are not authorized to accept or acknowledge court documents on its behalf; such documents must be handled exclusively by the National Legal Adviser.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• Exclusive Authority: Per the party’s constitution, only the National Legal Adviser possesses the authority to instruct legal practitioners or represent the ADC in any legal proceedings, including tribunals, arbitrations, or administrative processes.

• Prohibition on Service of Process: State chapters, executive committee members, and state-level legal advisers are strictly forbidden from receiving, accepting, or taking custody of any court processes served against the party at state secretariats or local offices.

• Mandatory Protocol for Substituted Service: If a court process is served on a state chapter via substituted means, the document must be immediately transmitted electronically to the National Legal Adviser.

• Consequences of Non-Compliance: Violation of these directives may result in disciplinary actions in accordance with the party’s constitution.