The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday deferred hearing in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) by former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
The suit, filed by a aggrieved party member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, was scheduled for hearing of pending applications before Justice Peter Lifu. However, the judge did not sit, forcing an adjournment to September 28.
Gombe is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from parading themselves as ADC leaders. He contends that their emergence breached the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Listed as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, are the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Ralph Nwosu.
Justice Lifu had earlier refused an application by the ADC and Aregbesola asking him to recuse himself over alleged bias. He dismissed the motions as lacking merit and imposed a N1 million cost on each of the two applicants in favour of Gombe.
The leadership dispute arose after Nwosu stepped aside as National Chairman, paving the way for Mark to head the party’s interim structure. The new leadership says its emergence is part of efforts to reposition the ADC ahead of future elections, but Gombe insists the process violated legal and constitutional requirements.
The suit challenging Mark and Aregbesola’s leadership of the ADC was adjourned to September 28 after Justice Peter Lifu did not sit.
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