₦airaland Forum

The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the Senator David Mark- led interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress to appear before it on September 15, to explain why the Independent National Electoral Commission should not be restrained from recognising their authority.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on September 4 after refusing an ex-parte application filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Gombe. Gombe, who is laying claim to the party’s chairmanship, had sought an interim injunction to stop Mark’s faction from parading themselves as party leaders.

In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 and dated September 2, the plaintiff asked the court to prevent INEC from recognising Mark and his allies as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC, pending the determination of the substantive matter.

The defendants in the case include the ADC, Mark, former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola (Interim National Secretary), INEC, and former ADC National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Justice Nwite declined to grant the ex parte relief and instead ordered that the defendants be put on notice. He further directed them to appear on September 15 to show cause why the plaintiff’s application should not be granted.

The case is one of several legal battles triggered by disputes within the ADC, following INEC’s recent recognition of the Mark-led National Working Committee. In a separate suit, ADC members Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila are challenging the legitimacy of the interim leadership.

They argue that the appointment of Mark, Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary) violated the ADC’s 2018 constitution, which does not provide for interim leadership positions.

According to them, only a properly convened National Convention or NEC meeting can dissolve or replace the executive committee.

The plaintiffs further contend that handing over the party’s leadership to Mark and others contravened a December 2022 judgment delivered by Justice Binta Nyako.

The crisis was sparked by the announcement of a coalition—backed by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar—that adopted the ADC as its political platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.

Following the announcement, Chief Nwosu dissolved existing party structures to pave the way for the coalition’s new leadership framework. The matter resumes on September 15. Meanwhile, the ADC has dismissed reports that the court granted an injunction against Mark and Aregbesola.

In a statement on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi, said some political actors, after failing to stop INEC from recognising the new leadership, had resorted to spreading fake news. He explained that INEC had, on Wednesday, officially recognised Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s leaders, contrary to reports that the court had restrained them.

Abdullahi said the ruling delivered by Justice Nwite clearly refused the plaintiff’s ex-parte application, directed that the defendants be put on notice, ordered them to appear before the court to show cause why the application should not be granted, and adjourned the matter to September 15, 2025, for hearing.

He described reports suggesting otherwise as a deliberate distortion of the court’s ruling. According to him, political jobbers “having failed to stop INEC from acknowledging the leadership change in ADC, are now resorting to fake news.

This shows that these agents of destabilisation will stop at nothing, including misrepresenting court rulings, in their desperate efforts to sow confusion and weaken opposition parties.” He urged the media and the public to remain vigilant against misinformation.

jmoore:
Court has already ruled that party leadership is an internal affair.

What is wrong with our judiciary?

jmoore:
Court has already ruled that party leadership is an internal affair.

What is wrong with our judiciary?

TimeManager:
A member of the party can take the case to court. And if due process wasn't followed, the court can as well dismiss such leadership.

-Kiss the truth!

Ikaeniyan0:
The court can interfere if the party laid down rules are not followed. Have you forget what happen in Zamfara state and Rivers state? The ADC might not have any candidate contesting for any position in 2027 if Mark's faction do not settle out of court with the litigants

jmoore:
David Mark is not INEC, so the court inviting David is ridiculous.

If the court needs clarification, they should invite INEC, not David Mark.

fergie001:
I think punch wasn't thorough with the news.....

Court processes were given ADC and INEC only who were represented in court. When Gombe was asked why Rauf, Mark and Nwosu were not in Court, Agber his lawyer stated that they were served via ADC. Justice Nwite simply said No, all three should be served individually in their respective capacities following the objections of the ADC Counsel.

This is not news, it will end same way as others.

jmoore:
David Mark is not INEC, so the court inviting David is ridiculous.

If the court needs clarification, they should invite INEC, not David Mark.

yarimo:
David mark and other hijackers should be reminded in kuje prison, for hijacking ADC

fergie001:
I think punch wasn't thorough with the news.....

Court processes were given ADC and INEC only who were represented in court. When Gombe was asked why Rauf, Mark and Nwosu were not in Court, Agber his lawyer stated that they were served via ADC. Justice Nwite simply said No, all three should be served individually in their respective capacities following the objections of the ADC Counsel.

This is not news, it will end same way as others.

AMINDA:
Clearly. It is misinformation and it has no business making the frontpage apart from giving the usual suspects something to jubilate about, albeit in vain. The FHC has absolutely no jurisdiction in this matter.

zero8zero:
They will all be personally served and on the 30th, the court will deliver the big hammer on the party hijackers. Due process has to be followed, case closed.

esnbrutality:
Just remember Tinubu can't rule forever and the only way to dodge retribution for the SW is actually disintegrating NIGERIA.

What will happen to SW politicial class will even shock the Devil.

Keep doing nonsense...

Karma has timeless wisdom.

zero8zero:
They will all be personally served and on the 30th, the court will deliver the big hammer on the party hijackers. Due process has to be followed, case closed.

yarimo:
David mark and other hijackers should be reminded in kuje prison, for hijacking ADC

yarimo:
David mark and other hijackers should be reminded in kuje prison, for hijacking ADC

esnbrutality:
Just remember Tinubu can't rule forever and the only way to dodge retribution for the SW is actually disintegrating NIGERIA.

What will happen to SW politicial class will even shock the Devil.

Keep doing nonsense...

Karma has timeless wisdom.

yarimo:
David mark and other hijackers should be remand in kuje prison, for hijacking ADC