The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has clarified that contrary to misleading reports, the Federal High Court in Abuja did not issue any order restraining Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from acting as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
In its ruling on September 4, 2025, presided over by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite, the court refused the ex-parte application filed by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and instead ordered that the defendants be put on notice, appear to show cause why the application should not be granted, and adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025.
The ADC noted that resorting to fake news has become the last resort of desperate political jobbers who had been disappointed by INEC’s decision to stand on the side of the Nigerian people by acknowledging the leadership change in the opposition party.
The party also urged the media and the public to beware of fake news and to verify information to avoid misleading Nigerians.
The ADC spokesman, Bolaji Abdullahi, said contrary to some misleading publications, the court did not issue any order restraining Senator Mark and Ogbeni Aregbesola from functioning as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, respectively.
Instead, the Honourable Court refused the ex-parte application brought by Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and directed that the matter proceed with due process.
“The ruling, delivered by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite on September 4, 2025, clearly stated the following four orders: That the Plaintiff/Applicant’s application dated and filed on September 2, 2025, is refused; that the Plaintiff/Applicant is hereby directed to put the Defendants on notice; that the Defendants/Respondents are ordered to appear before this Honourable Court to show cause why the application should not be granted, and, that the case is adjourned to September 15, 2025, for the Defendants/Respondents to show cause.
“The Order was duly signed and issued by Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite, Presiding Judge, and certified by Kasope Kafayat Bola, Registrar of the Federal High Court.
“Having failed to stop INEC from acknowledging the leadership change in ADC, the political Jobbers are now resorting to fake news.
“This goes to show that these agents of destablisation will stop at nothing, including misrepresenting court rulings, in their desperate efforts to sow confusion and further undermine opposition parties.
“In this regard, the leadership of the ADC urges members of the press and the general public to be vigilant and be wary of fake news and inaccurate reports characteristic of the ruling party and their agents,” the statement added.
