- The Federal High Court in Abuja postponed judgment in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress
- The case, filed by Leke Abejide, sought to restrain David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from acting as interim national leaders of the party
- Defendants argued the suit lacked merit and concerned internal party affairs, while the court fixed April 14 for judgment after an adjournment
The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed judgment in a suit seeking to restrain David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as interim National Chairman and Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The judgment, initially scheduled for Monday, was adjourned to April 14 by Justice Musa Suleiman Liman due to other official engagements. The announcement was made by a court registrar to journalists and political observers who had gathered at the court premises early in anticipation of the ruling.
Many attendees, including supporters from both the claimant’s camp and those aligned with the current ADC leadership, gradually dispersed upon learning of the postponement.
The suit was filed by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Kogi State under the ADC platform. Through his counsel, Ibrahim Idris, SAN, Abejide is challenging the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership structure.
In the originating summons, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 and filed on February 15, 2026, Abejide named the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
Abejide is seeking, among other reliefs, a declaration nullifying the transfer of party leadership from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola, which he claims took place on July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre. He argues that the handover was unlawful, illegal, and void.
He also requested a perpetual injunction restraining both Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as leaders of the party. Additionally, he urged the court to bar INEC from recognising them in those capacities, citing alleged non-compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.
However, the defendants have collectively urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that it lacks merit. Counsel representing the ADC, Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola, and INEC contended that Abejide does not possess the legal standing to institute the case.
They further maintained that the dispute concerns the internal affairs of a political party, which they argued is not subject to judicial intervention. According to their submissions, the leadership in question emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, rather than the date cited by the claimant.
The defendants also described the suit as academic and urged the court to dismiss it with substantial costs. The court is now expected to deliver its judgment on April 14.
ADC crisis deepens as Bala confirms presence at leadership meeting
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that the internal crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has intensified, as factional national chairman Nafiu Bala confirmed that he was present at the meeting where an interim leadership led by former Senate President David Mark was installed in July 2025.
The development marks a significant moment in the party’s ongoing leadership dispute, which has since split the ADC into two factions—one aligned with Mark and the other led by Bala.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) further complicated the situation on Wednesday by announcing that it would not recognise either faction, citing a Court of Appeal ruling delivered on 12 March.