Court Sets June 3 for ADC Leadership Dispute

A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for hearing in a suit filed by ADC chieftain, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, seeking to stop former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The case will now be heard by Justice Peter Lifu following the elevation of the former trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, to the Court of Appeal.

Hearing notices have been issued and served on parties in the suit, according to lawyers familiar with the matter.

Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, is challenging the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary, arguing that their appointments and those of members of the party's interim National Working Committee (NWC) violated the party's constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

The suit lists the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

The matter was previously adjourned indefinitely by Justice Nwite to await the outcome of proceedings at the Supreme Court.

However, the apex court subsequently set aside a Court of Appeal order that had led to INEC's derecognition of the Mark-led leadership and directed parties to return to the Federal High Court for an accelerated hearing.

Following the judgment, INEC restored the Mark-led leadership on its official portal.

At the last sitting on May 8, counsel to Gombe, Luka Haruna (SAN), requested that the matter be reassigned to another judge, a move strongly opposed by lawyers representing the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.

The defence team described the request as "forum shopping" and maintained confidence in the impartiality and integrity of Justice Nwite.

With the case now reassigned, Justice Lifu is expected to hear arguments from all parties when proceedings resume on June 3.

The leadership dispute comes amid ongoing efforts by the ADC to reposition ahead of the 2027 general elections, with internal disagreements continuing over the party's leadership structure and direction.