Fresh Court Decision Emerges In ADC Leadership Battle

The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed proceedings in a suit challenging the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), setting June 8 as the new date for hearing to ensure that all parties with an interest in the matter are properly served and represented before the court.

The decision was made by Justice Peter Lifu following submissions from counsel to the plaintiff, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), who informed the court that legal representatives of parties seeking to be joined in the case were absent when the matter was called. Reports indicate that while the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had received hearing notices, the parties seeking joinder had not yet been served.

Counsel representing the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), reminded the court that the interested parties had featured in earlier proceedings before a previous judge handling the matter and had existing applications before the court. He urged that they be given an opportunity to appear and explain their interest in the case in the interest of fairness and justice.

Emukpoeruo, citing recent appellate court pronouncements calling for an expedited hearing of the matter, requested time for all outstanding processes to be filed and exchanged, while also seeking an adjournment to allow the interested parties to participate fully in the proceedings.

The application for adjournment was not opposed by lawyers representing the ADC, former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu. However, defence counsel argued that previous attempts by the plaintiff to have the case reassigned contributed to delays despite directives from the Supreme Court for a speedy resolution.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu stressed that litigants have no authority to determine which judge hears their cases. He noted that the matter had been duly assigned to his court by the Chief Judge and that both the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal had directed that the dispute be resolved promptly and fairly.

The judge also acknowledged the court’s responsibility for the failure to serve parties seeking joinder and subsequently ordered that all such parties be served within 24 hours. He further directed all parties to file and exchange relevant court processes before the next hearing date.

Justice Lifu emphasized that, in line with the interests of justice and existing directives from higher courts, the case would proceed on an accelerated basis.

The suit was filed by former ADC National Deputy Chairman, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who is seeking orders restraining David Mark, Aregbesola, and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from functioning as national officers of the party. Gombe argues that the process through which the interim leadership emerged contravened provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

Named as defendants in the suit are the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

The legal dispute comes amid ongoing divisions within the party, with rival factions previously endorsing different presidential candidates for the 2027 election cycle, further highlighting the deepening leadership crisis within the ADC.