Court Adjourns Suit Challenging David Mark-Led ADC Leadership

The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned until September 28 a suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, led by former Senate President David Mark. The matter was scheduled for Monday for the hearing of all pending applications, but proceedings could not go ahead because the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, did not sit. The court consequently fixed September 28 for the matter to come up again. Gombe’s suit is seeking an order to stop Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and members of their interim National Working Committee from parading themselves as leaders of the ADC. The case comes amid an ongoing leadership dispute within the opposition party, with Gombe challenging the authority of the Mark-led leadership structure.

The matter had earlier been fixed for the hearing of all pending applications after Justice Lifu dismissed an application seeking his recusal from the case. The application had been filed separately by the ADC and Aregbesola, who asked the judge to withdraw from the suit over allegations of bias. Justice Lifu, however, ruled that the two applications lacked merit and awarded a fine of one million naira each against the ADC and Aregbesola in favour of Gombe. With the pending applications yet to be heard, the Federal High Court has now scheduled September 28 for the case to proceed. The next hearing is expected to determine the court’s consideration of the outstanding applications in the suit challenging the leadership of the party.

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