ADC Leadership Crisis Deepens As Court Adjourns Suit Indefinitely

Fresh uncertainty has continued to trail the leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress after the Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely the suit challenging the emergence of former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, in the party’s leadership structure.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe and has become one of the major legal battles threatening the stability of the opposition party ahead of future political alignments and elections.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, counsel to the plaintiff informed the court that the matter had taken a new twist following a request seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.
According to the plaintiff’s lawyer, Luka Musa Haruna, the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark challenging the proceedings in the matter. He added that the apex court also vacated the earlier order of the Court of Appeal which had temporarily halted proceedings in the substantive suit.
Haruna further disclosed that the plaintiff had already written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge, urging the court to await administrative directives on the application.
The request immediately sparked strong opposition from lawyers representing the defendants, who accused the plaintiff of deliberately attempting to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by higher courts.
Counsel to the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, faulted the plaintiff’s approach, arguing that the defence team had not been officially served with the application seeking transfer of the matter.
He described the move as an ambush and an attempt to slow down proceedings in a case already attracting significant national attention.
Also reacting, counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, alleged that the application amounted to “forum shopping and judge shopping,” warning that such a development could set a dangerous precedent within the judiciary if allowed to stand.
Another defence lawyer, P.I. Oyewole, equally opposed the request, insisting that the plaintiff’s action was strange and inappropriate.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not take any decision regarding the transfer request without giving all parties fair hearing.
The judge maintained that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it pending administrative consideration.
Consequently, the court adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow parties obtain and file the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment, serve all relevant processes on the defendants, and await further directives from the Chief Judge.
The development is expected to further intensify the internal leadership tensions within the ADC, especially as the plaintiff seeks an order restraining David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
Gombe argues that their emergence allegedly violated the party’s constitution as well as provisions of the Electoral Act.
Recall that the recent exit of Peter Obi from the ADC coalition was reportedly premised on the growing uncertainty surrounding the party’s legal battles and the impending court cases which political observers say have weakened the operations and stability of the party.
Political analysts believe the prolonged legal crisis may significantly shape the future direction of the ADC and its internal power dynamics ahead of the next election cycle.