The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned to September 28, 2026, the suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe challenging the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
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The matter, which was scheduled on Monday for hearing of all pending applications, could not proceed because the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, did not sit. It was consequently fixed for September 28.
The court had, however, in an earlier ruling delivered on June 16, dismissed separate applications filed by the ADC and its National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, asking Justice Lifu to recuse himself from the case over alleged bias.
Justice Lifu held that the two applications lacked merit and awarded costs of ₦1 million each against the ADC and Aregbesola in favour of Gombe.
Following that ruling, the judge fixed the matter for the hearing of all outstanding applications.
Gombe, an aggrieved member of the ADC, is asking the court to restrain former Senate President David Mark, Aregbesola and members of their interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as leaders of the party.
He contends that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the interim NWC violated provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, lists the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as the first to fifth defendants respectively.
Nwosu had stepped down as national chairman before the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The court has not yet determined Gombe’s substantive request seeking to stop Mark and the interim NWC from acting as the party’s leadership. The next proceedings are scheduled for September 28.
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