Court Fixes April 14 For Hearing Of ADC Leadership Dispute

The Federal High Court in Abuja has slated April 14, 2026, for the hearing of a suit challenging the leadership of Senator David Mark-led African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The suit, instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, sought to restrain Mark and other members of the party’s leadership from parading themselves as the ADC’s national executives.

Presiding over the matter, Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the hearing date on Friday after confirming that hearing notices had been duly served on all parties involved.

The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Mark, former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

The matter had previously been adjourned indefinitely, pending the outcome of an appeal challenging an earlier ruling of the court. However, the Court of Appeal, in a judgement delivered on March 12, directed all parties to return to the trial court and maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Following the appellate court’s directive, INEC de-recognised Senator Mark and Aregbesola as ADC national chairman and national secretary, respectively, and consequently removed their names from its official portal

In response, the Mark-led faction filed a motion on April 7, seeking an order compelling INEC to restore their names on its portal. The faction also urged the court to grant an accelerated hearing of the case.

Meanwhile, both Mark and Aregbesola have filed preliminary objections, urging the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction.

Mark, in his objection, argued that the plaintiff lacked the legal right to institute the case, maintaining that Gombe had resigned his position as the party’s Deputy National Chairman. He further contended that the matter “borders on internal party affairs,” which he described as non-justiciable.

Aregbesola, in a counter-affidavit, also described the suit as “unmeritorious,” urging the court to dismiss it and award N50 million in costs against the plaintiff for what he termed a frivolous action.