ADC Leader Wants Judge To Step Aside, Alleges Partiality

An ongoing matter involving the chieftains of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC), has taken a dramatic turn, as one of the parties seeking to be joined, Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, has called on the judge handling the matter, Justice Liman Suleiman, to recuse himself from further proceeding of the case.

In a motion on notice dated the 26th day of March, 2026, and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the ADC chieftain insisted that he would not get justice, if the judge remained in charge of the matter, noting that the steps so far taken by the judge have shown some elements of bias.

He is therefore seeking an Order of the Honourable Court returning the case file in suit no FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, with a view to reassigning the matter to another judge.

Equally, the applicant is seeking a stay of further proceeding on the matter, pending the decision of the Hon. Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, as well as the presiding judge to recuse himself from further proceeding on the matter.

Applicant, through his counsel, Kalu Kalu Age Esq, further maintained that Justice Suleiman heard and granted an application without service of hearing notice and the application for amendment on Ukandu’s Counsel, which robbed the Judge of the jurisdiction to hear and entertain the application.

Ukandu, in a -26 paragraph affidavit deposed by himself, accused Hon. Justice Liman Suleiman of allegedly, giving rulings in favour of Wike’s interest, an action which is geared towards destroying all opposition political parties in Nigeria.

Hon. Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, had filed a suit challenging the manner in which Senator David Mark and others took over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress.

Although Abejide had since been expelled from the party for his anti-party activities, including openly canvassing for President Tinubu’s second term, he has continued to challenge the leadership of the party in court, including Hon. Nkem Ukandu, who is now the welfare secretary of the party.