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Supreme Court to hear Senator David Mark's appeal regarding ADC national chairmanship on Tuesday
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear an appeal filed by Senator David Mark, the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, on Tuesday, April 14. Mark is seeking an order to stay the execution of a March 12 judgment from the Court of Appeal. The appeal, with number SC/CV/180/2026, lists Hon. Nafiu-Bala Gombe, ADC, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, and Chief Ralph Nwosu as respondents. Mark's lawyer, Realwan Okpanachi, has requested that the court restrain INEC from recognizing any individuals other than Mark and the current national officers of the ADC, and from altering the party's leadership structure, pending the appeal's determination. The motion also seeks to halt further proceedings in a related case before Justice Emeka Nwite at the Federal High Court. Okpanachi argues that the Court of Appeal's judgment, which ordered parties to maintain status quo ante bellum, is being interpreted by Gombe to prevent INEC from dealing with Mark, effectively enforcing a judgment that Mark is challenging. INEC had previously removed Mark and Aregbesola's names from its portal following the Court of Appeal's judgment. Mark has since filed a motion with Justice Nwite to restore their names. The original suit was filed by Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the legitimacy of Mark and Aregbesola's leadership, alleging breaches of the party's constitution and the Electoral Act.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
Nigeria's National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, met with the newly confirmed United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Frank Garcia, in Abuja. This meeting aimed to strengthen security cooperation between the two nations. Garcia's visit to Nigeria is his first since assuming office on June 1, 2026, and is part of a West African tour that includes C么te d'Ivoire and Mali. Ribadu stated on X that the discussion reviewed progress by the Nigeria-US Joint Working Group and reaffirmed their commitment to dialogue and cooperation on shared security priorities. Garcia, a 28-year US Navy veteran, previously served as a senior adviser to the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. His appointment filled a vacancy in the Africa post that had lasted over a year.
The president of the Senegalese football federation, Abdoulaye Fall, stated on Monday that coach Pape Thiaw's salary demands created a toxic environment for the team at the World Cup. Thiaw, 45, was sacked on Sunday after Senegal's elimination in the last 32 by Belgium on July 1. Fall explained that a breakdown in trust occurred due to Thiaw's initial refusal to sign a new contract, as he had requested a salary increase from 20 million CFA to 30,000 CFA before the World Cup. Fall also mentioned that Thiaw threatened not to travel to the World Cup if his demands were not met, and it was Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who convinced him to change his mind. The contract was eventually signed on the eve of their second game against Norway, after Thiaw reportedly refused to sit in the dugout until it was finalized. Fall indicated that Thiaw believed federation officials were his enemies, which affected the national team's operations. During the World Cup, the Lions of Teranga experienced two group stage defeats against France and Norway before a 5-0 victory over Iraq secured their place in the knockout rounds. Under Thiaw, Senegal had won the Africa Cup of Nations in January but were later stripped of the title for walking off the pitch during the final against Morocco.
Built environment professionals are urging a thorough technical audit of the new Gombe State House of Assembly Complex construction site after a section of its cantilevered entrance canopy collapsed, resulting in one fatality and seven injuries. Experts from engineering and architecture, including Engr. Suleiman Abba of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and Engr. Musa Achindo of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, emphasized the need for an independent assessment to determine the cause and strengthen safety standards. Arc. Mustapha Adamu of the Nigerian Institute of Architects advocated for a multidisciplinary investigation. The Gombe State Government has initiated an immediate investigation, confirming eight workers were involved, with one death and seven injuries. Governor Muhammadu Yahaya expressed condolences and directed that all injured workers receive medical care at the government's expense. The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transportation, along with other agencies, has been instructed to commence safety and accountability procedures. The contractor and supervising consultant are required to submit an incident report within 24 hours, followed by preliminary and comprehensive technical reports. The government assured the public that the investigation's findings would guide future actions and reaffirmed its commitment to enforcing safety and quality standards in public infrastructure projects.