COURT FIXES APRIL 14 TO HEAR SUIT CHALLENGING ADC LEADERSHIP
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 14, 2026, for the hearing of a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, seeks to restrain Mark and other party officials from parading themselves as executives of the party.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the hearing date on Friday after confirming that hearing notices had been served on all parties involved.
Listed as defendants in the suit are the ADC, Mark, former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was previously adjourned indefinitely pending the outcome of an appeal challenging an earlier court order. However, the Court of Appeal, in a judgment delivered on March 12, directed all parties to return to the trial court and maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Following the appellate court’s ruling, INEC reportedly removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
In reaction, the Mark-led faction filed a motion on April 7 seeking an order compelling INEC to restore their names on its portal, alongside a request for an accelerated hearing of the case.
Meanwhile, both Mark and Aregbesola have filed preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit.
Mark argued that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing (locus standi) to institute the case, claiming he had resigned his position as Deputy National Chairman of the party. He also contended that the matter concerns internal party affairs, which he described as non-justiciable.
Similarly, Aregbesola urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as unmeritorious, and asked for N50 million in costs against the plaintiff for what he termed a frivolous action.
Nwosu also opposed the suit, arguing that it was premature and that the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms had not been exhausted before approaching the court.
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