Fresh Tension In ADC As Mark, Aregbesola Oppose Court Action

Mark and Aregbesola argued that granting the request would amount to a miscarriage of justice and unfairly prejudice their defence in the matter.

Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, through his counsel Lukman Fagbemi, approached the court seeking leave to further amend his originating summons against the party, Mark, Aregbesola, and others over the emergence of new national officers. The application represents the third attempt to amend the suit, with Gombe insisting that he is legally entitled to modify his claims at any stage before judgment. He anchored his request on eight grounds supported by a six-paragraph affidavit.

Opposing the motion, Mark’s counsel, Suleiman Umar, told the court that issues in the case had already been joined by both parties and argued that allowing a fresh amendment at this stage, after the defence had been fully filed, would grant the claimant an undue advantage. He urged the court to dismiss the application on the grounds that it was prejudicial and contrary to the principles of natural justice.

Similarly, Aregbesola, represented by Realwan Okpanachi, contended that the claimant had significantly altered the character of his case in the proposed amendment. He maintained that the ADC National Executive Committee (NEC) had already effected a leadership change at its meeting on July 29, 2025, after proper notification was sent to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on July 1, which he said legitimised the Mark and Aregbesola-led leadership.

He further argued that Gombe’s original filing relied on an unsigned copy of the ADC Constitution, while the proposed amendment sought to introduce a signed version, describing the move as an act of bad faith. He urged the court to reject the application, stating that it amounted to an abuse of court process, especially as the Supreme Court had already ordered an accelerated hearing of the matter.

After hearing submissions from all parties, Justice Lifu adjourned the case to July 7 for ruling on whether the proposed amendments would be granted.

Gombe is also seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola, and others from presenting themselves as leaders of the ADC.