ADC Crisis Deepens As Court Suspends Leadership Case Without Date

The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress deepened on Friday after the Federal High Court in Abuja adjourned indefinitely a suit challenging the party’s new leadership led by former Senate President David Mark.

Justice Emeka Nwite suspended proceedings after the plaintiff, ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, informed the court that he had asked the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case to another judge.

The suit questions the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola in the ADC leadership structure.

During proceedings, Gombe’s lawyer, Luka Musa Haruna, said the Supreme Court had dismissed an earlier appeal filed by Mark and lifted the stay of proceedings previously granted by the Court of Appeal.

Haruna, however, urged the court to await the Chief Judge’s decision on the request for reassignment.

Lawyers representing the defendants opposed the move, accusing the plaintiff of trying to delay the accelerated hearing ordered by the appellate courts.

Counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, described the request as “forum shopping and judge shopping,” while other defence lawyers argued they were not formally served with the application.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite said the court could not act on the request without hearing all parties and noted that the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, not the trial court.

He subsequently adjourned the matter sine die, pending further directives and the filing of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment.

Gombe is seeking to stop Mark, Aregbesola and others from presenting themselves as ADC leaders, arguing that their appointments violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.