The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday again adjourned indefinitely a suit filed by an African Democratic Congress (ADC) chieftain, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, stems from a leadership dispute within the ADC following the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal earlier filed by Mark and set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings.
However, Haruna informed the court that the plaintiff had written to the Chief Judge on May 4, 2026, seeking reassignment of the case and urged the court to await the administrative decision.
Counsel for the defendants opposed the request, describing it as an attempt to frustrate the accelerated hearing ordered by the appellate courts and accusing the plaintiff of forum shopping and judge shopping.
Delivering ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not act on the letter to the Chief Judge without hearing all parties, adding that any decision at that stage would breach the defendants’ right to fair hearing.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter sine die, saying the court would await the Supreme Court judgment documentation and any directive from the Chief Judge.
Gombe is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as ADC leaders, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
