- The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled Friday, May 8, for the hearing of a suit challenging the leadership of former Senate President David Mark within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
- The case resumed after the Supreme Court dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark on April 30, clearing the path for the substantive legal battle to continue.
- The plaintiff, Nafiu Gombe, is seeking to restrain David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as party leaders, alleging their emergence violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
The legal battle over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) is set to intensify as the Federal High Court in Abuja fixed Friday for a definitive hearing.
Eko Hot Blog reports that Justice Emeka Nwite scheduled the date following an application for an accelerated hearing by the plaintiff, Nafiu Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the party.
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The move follows a significant victory for the plaintiff at the Supreme Court, which recently dismissed an appeal by David Mark that had previously stalled proceedings in the lower court.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/1819/2025, names the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
Gombe’s legal team, led by senior advocates including Luka Haruna, argued that the leadership transition that brought Mark and Aregbesola to power was fundamentally flawed.
They contend that the process ignored established party protocols and federal electoral laws, rendering their positions invalid.
While the case had previously been adjourned indefinitely (sine die) to await the apex court’s decision, the recent dismissal of Mark’s appeal has removed all legal hurdles.
The plaintiff is now pushing for a court order that would effectively dissolve the current leadership structure.
As the ADC grapples with internal friction and the recent exit of key figures to other platforms, the outcome of Friday’s hearing is expected to have a major impact on the party’s stability ahead of the 2027 general elections.
