The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 14 to hear a suit seeking to bar the Senator David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from parading itself as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after issuing hearing notices to all parties involved, following a March 12 ruling by the Court of Appeal that directed the trial court to maintain the status quo ante bellum pending the substantive suit’s determination.
The plaintiff, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, filed the suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025) against the ADC, Senator David Mark, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants respectively.
INEC Removes Mark, Aregbesola from Portal
In compliance with the appellate court’s judgment, INEC on April 1 removed Mark and Aregbesola’s names from its official portal as the ADC’s national chairman and national secretary.
However, the Mark-led leadership, through a motion filed on April 7 by Mr Sulaiman Usman, SAN, has asked the court to order INEC to restore their names to their pre-litigation status. They have also requested an accelerated hearing of the case.
Mark, Aregbesola Seek Dismissal
Senator Mark, in a preliminary objection filed on April 7, argued that Mr Gombe lacks locus standi to bring the suit, having voluntarily resigned as the ADC’s deputy national chairman. He contended that the suit is founded on falsehood and suppression of material facts, adding that it touches on a political party’s internal affairs, which are non-justiciable.
“This honourable court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit. The suit constitutes a gross abuse of court process,” Mark argued.
Similarly, Mr Aregbesola urged the court to dismiss the suit, describing it as unmeritorious. He stated that Mr Gombe had resigned to facilitate a smooth coalition and restructuring, and that the party had duly communicated this resignation to INEC. He sought N50 million in damages for being put to unnecessary defence.
Nwosu: Suit Premature
Chief Ralph Nwosu, the former national chairman of the ADC, also filed a preliminary objection through his lawyer, Mr P.I. Oyewole, arguing that the case is premature. He submitted that Mr Gombe failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
Justice Nwite had previously adjourned the matter indefinitely, pending the Court of Appeal’s decision. With that decision now delivered, all eyes are on the April 14 hearing.
