The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned proceedings in the suit challenging the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) until June 8, following an application by the plaintiff seeking time to ensure all interested parties are properly brought before the court.
Justice Peter Lifu fixed the new date on Wednesday after counsel to the plaintiff, Chief Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), informed the court that lawyers representing parties seeking to be joined in the matter were absent.
When the case was called, legal representatives of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the parties seeking joinder were not in court.
While court records indicated that INEC had been served with hearing notices, the parties seeking to join the suit had yet to receive service.
Counsel to the ADC, Chief Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), reminded the court that the parties seeking joinder had featured in earlier proceedings before the former trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, who had taken judicial notice of their applications.
According to him, the parties should be afforded the opportunity to appear before the court and state the basis of their interest in the matter in the spirit of fair hearing.
Aruwa further argued that issues relating to the applications for joinder had already been raised and were known to the plaintiff.
Responding, Emukpoeruo referenced recent appellate decisions directing that the matter be heard expeditiously and urged the court to allow all pending processes to be filed and exchanged. He also sought an adjournment to enable the interested parties participate fully in the proceedings.
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The request was not opposed by counsel representing the ADC, Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
However, defence lawyers contended that earlier efforts by the plaintiff to seek a reassignment of the case had contributed to delays, contrary to the Supreme Court’s directive for an accelerated hearing.
In his remarks, Justice Lifu stated that litigants do not possess the right to choose the judge before whom their cases are heard. He added that having been assigned the matter by the Chief Judge and guided by directives from both the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, the court was obligated to ensure a fair and speedy determination of the dispute.
The judge also accepted responsibility for the failure to effect service on the parties seeking joinder and subsequently adjourned the case to June 8.
“In the circumstances of this case and the overall interest of justice and order of the Supreme Court and the Appeal Court, this case is hereby given an accelerated hearing,” Justice Lifu said.
He directed the court bailiff to serve all parties seeking joinder within 24 hours and ordered all parties in the matter to file and exchange their processes before the next hearing date.
The suit was instituted by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, and is marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.
Gombe is seeking judicial orders restraining Senator David Mark, who currently heads the party’s interim leadership, as well as Aregbesola and members of the interim National Working Committee (NWC), from acting as national officers of the party.
The plaintiff maintains that the process that produced the interim leadership violated provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
Named as defendants in the suit are the ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
The legal challenge comes amid growing divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
While one faction recently produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate after a national convention held on May 27, another faction adopted Dumebi Kachikwu as its flagbearer, further highlighting the internal contest for control of the party.
