The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another dramatic turn on Friday as the Federal High Court in Abuja indefinitely adjourned a suit challenging the party’s current leadership structure led by former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite postponed proceedings in the case after counsel to the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala Gombe, informed the court that an application had been submitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the reassignment of the matter to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, stems from growing tensions within the ADC following the emergence of David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in prominent leadership roles within the party.
At Friday’s proceedings, plaintiff’s counsel, Luka Musa Haruna, disclosed that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark challenging the suit.
Haruna further stated that the apex court also nullified the Court of Appeal’s earlier order that stayed proceedings in the substantive case.
According to him, the plaintiff had subsequently written to the Chief Judge on May 4, 2026, requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judge, and urged the court to await an administrative decision on the request.
The move sparked strong opposition from lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of attempting to stall the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the appellate courts.
Counsel to the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the defence had not been formally served with the application and described the development as an “ambush.”
He further alleged that the request was aimed at frustrating the accelerated hearing directive already upheld by the Supreme Court.
Also opposing the application, counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, described the move as “forum shopping and judge shopping,” warning that allowing such a practice could set a dangerous judicial precedent.
Similarly, counsel to the fifth defendant, P.I. Oyewole, faulted the request and described it as unusual, accusing the plaintiff of attempting to draw the Chief Judge into what he termed “judicial rascality.”
Responding to the objections, Haruna maintained that the plaintiff stood by the application for reassignment.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not act on the letter without first hearing all parties involved in the matter.
The judge noted that taking any decision based on the request without input from the defendants would amount to a breach of their right to fair hearing.
He further explained that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it pending administrative action.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned the matter sine die, directing parties to obtain and file the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, serve the defendants with the letter sent to the Chief Judge, and await further directives.
Gombe, the plaintiff, is seeking a court order restraining David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and other party officials from presenting themselves as leaders of the ADC, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
