Court adjourns suit challenging Mark’s leadership of ADC to Sept. 28

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled September 28 for a hearing in a lawsuit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe. Gombe is challenging the leadership of David Mark in the African Democratic Congress (ADC). He seeks to prevent Mark and others from claiming to be the ADC's leaders. Gombe joined the ADC, Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as the first to fifth defendants.

The lawsuit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was set to hear pending applications before Justice Lifu. However, the judge did not sit, so the matter was adjourned until September 28. Justice Lifu had initially set the date for hearing pending applications on June 16 after dismissing applications by the ADC and its National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola seeking his recusal from the case.

The judge found the applications lacked merit and ordered N1m costs each against the ADC and Aregbesola in favor of Gombe. The ADC and Aregbesola had sought the judge's withdrawal due to alleged bias. Gombe argues that Mark, Aregbesola, and other interim National Working Committee members violated ADC constitution and Electoral Act provisions by claiming leadership.