Court Takes Fresh Action on ADC Leadership Suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed September 28 for the hearing of pending applications in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress.

The matter, filed by ADC member Nafiu-Bala Gombe, was listed for hearing on Monday but was adjourned after the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, was unavailable.

Gombe is asking the court to prevent former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as the lawful leaders of the ADC.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, he is also contesting the process that produced Mark as the party’s leader, arguing that it violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

The ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and the party’s former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu, are named as the first to fifth defendants.

The dispute followed Nwosu’s decision to step aside in July 2025, after which the party’s leadership was transferred to Mark and Aregbesola. Some members subsequently challenged the legality of the arrangement.

Gombe’s action is one of several cases arising from the leadership transition.

Recall that earlier, the Federal High Court upheld the Mark-led structure in a separate suit brought by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives.

Justice Musa Liman dismissed Abejide’s case, holding that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of the party. The judge also found that Abejide had not shown that his rights were breached by the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola.

According to the judgment, Nwosu’s transfer of authority to Mark did not contravene the ADC constitution. Justice Liman therefore declared the new leadership valid and consistent with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.

The court awarded N2 million to each defendant against Abejide and imposed an additional N10 million penalty on his lawyer.

The disagreement has nevertheless continued in other courts. Gombe, a former ADC vice-chairman, had earlier challenged the Mark-led arrangement and sought orders stopping what he described as an unlawful takeover of the party. He also disputed claims concerning his position within the ADC.

The case has since moved through the appellate courts. On March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal filed by Mark, describing the case as incompetent and lacking merit. It also ordered the parties to preserve the status quo and avoid steps that could affect the proceedings at the Federal High Court.

Following the decision, the Mark-led faction approached the Supreme Court after INEC withdrew its recognition of the faction.

On April 30, the Supreme Court directed Mark to return to the Federal High Court for the determination of the issues arising from the dispute. It also vacated the earlier status quo order, describing it as “unnecessary, unwarranted and improper.”