Court sets April 14 for hearing in ADC leadership tussle

A Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 14 for the hearing of a suit seeking to unseat the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date on Friday after hearing notices were issued to all parties in the case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

The suit, filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, is seeking to restrain Mark, former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola, and other party officials from parading themselves as executives of the ADC. Listed as defendants are the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

The matter had been adjourned indefinitely pending an appeal, but the Court of Appeal on March 12 directed parties to return to the trial court and maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive suit. Following that ruling, INEC reportedly removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its portal as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

In response, the Mark-led faction filed a motion on April 7 asking the court to compel INEC to restore their names and sought accelerated hearing of the case.

Both Mark and Aregbesola have filed preliminary objections seeking the dismissal of the suit. Mark argued that Gombe lacked the legal standing to institute the action, having allegedly resigned as Deputy National Chairman, and contended that the dispute constitutes an internal party matter that is non-justiciable.

Aregbesola similarly urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as unmeritorious, and asked that N50 million in costs be awarded against the plaintiff. Nwosu also challenged the suit, arguing that internal dispute resolution mechanisms had not been exhausted before the matter was brought to court.