₦airaland Forum

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 3 for hearing in a suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, seeking to stop David Mark and others from parading themselves as leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that hearing notices have since been issued and served on lawyers to the parties in the suit.

One of the lawyers confirmed the development to NAN.

The case, filed by the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman of ADC, was earlier before Justice Emeka Nwite of a sister court.

The matter was, however, reassigned to Justice Lifu, following Justice Nwite’s recent elevation to the Court of Appeal.

The National Judicial Council (NJC), at its 111th meeting on May 13, had recommended the appointment of 12 new justices of the Court of Appeal, including Justice Nwite, to President Bola Tinubu for approval.

Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Sen. Mark, the embattled National Chairman of ADC; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and members of their interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other NWC members as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.

Justice Nwite had, on April 14, adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) following Gombe’s request to await the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Mark.

However, the Supreme Court, on April 30, set aside the order made by the Court of Appeal in Abuja ordering the maintenance of status quo ante bellum in the leadership dispute in ADC, on which INEC acted in derecognising the Mark-led leadership of the party.

The apex court ordered the parties to return to the FHC for expeditious hearing of the case filed by Gombe, an aggrieved chieftain of the party.

NAN observes that INEC had, since, complied with the Supreme Court judgmemt by reversing the removal of Mark-led leadership from the commission’s official portal.

When the case came up on May 8 before Justice Nwite following the Supreme Court order, Luka Haruna, SAN, who appeared for Gombe, sought the transfer of the case from Nwite to another judge.

Although no reason was given, Haruna said a letter had been written to the CJ to the effect.

But lawyers to the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu, disagreed with the application.

ADC’s counsel, Rilwan Okpanachi; Suleiman Usman, SAN, who appeared for Mark; Mohammed Sheriff, who represented Aregbesola; P. I. Oyewole, counsel for Chief Ralph Nwosu, and other lawyers in the case vehemently opposed Gombe’s request for the case transfer.

The lawyers, who said that Gombe’s letter had not been served on them, described Haruna’s application as “an ambush.”

They also considered the request as an attempt to frustrate the order of Appeal Court for accelerated hearing which was sustained by the Supreme Court.

The defence lawyers, who described Gombe’s application as ‘forum shopping,” said the only good thing the application for the transfer of the matter had achieved was that the integrity of the court had been confirmed.

They said this was so because nothing tangible had happened since the last adjournment.

The lawyers said they maintained absolute confidence in the integrity, impartiality and sound judicial discretion of Justice Nwite’s court.

“The so-called letter in a normal view, is a fundamental breach of procedure, amounting in law to an illegality and not a mere irregularity,” they argued.

They said they would have insisted that the court should go on with the hearing but for a certified true copy (CTC) of the Supreme Court judgmemt which was yet to be obtained, in order for the trial court to be properly guided by it.

They, therefore, sought an indefinite adjournment to enable them furnish the judge with the CTC of the judgment and Justice Nwite adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely), pending when its CTC is gotten.

NAN reports that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar emerged as ADC presidential candidate on May 27 after defeating two other aspirants, including Rotimi Amaechi, former Minister of Transportation, at the party’s national convention.

Also, Dumebi Kachikwu, in a national convention conducted by another faction of ADC, emerged the presidential candidate of the party for the 2027 general election.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the party was adopted by factional members of the party as sole presidential candidate on May 24.(NAN)

fergie001:
Assigned to Peter Lifu?

ADC must make sure Lifu doesn't handle that suit otherwise it's gone!

fergie001:
Assigned to Peter Lifu?

ADC must make sure Lifu doesn't handle that suit otherwise it's gone!

Penguin2:
Ahhh! I used to think Justice Lifu is one of the good few.

Ordinarily, I would want the case to go against David Mark camp because that would eliminate Atiku and throw the North open for Obi and Tinubu, but I’m not gonna support injustice because it will favour me.

Goodluck to Atiku!

fergie001:
Peter Lifu
James Omotosho
Joyce Abulmallik
Ekwo - now suspended

They have about 9 Judges there but any political case(s) that the man has an interest, goes to the three.

These ones na it's gone! Higher Courts will quash the case in favour of Mark.
It's a bad case for Nafiu ab initio. The fact he was in the NEC meeting and signed in attendance says it all, just forget the trial Court and look up to the higher Courts.

fergie001:
Assigned to Peter Lifu?

ADC must make sure Lifu doesn't handle that suit otherwise it's gone!

Klington:
Obi's smart exit buried that joke of a party.

Obi is the smartest politician ever in the history of humanity. He's the real master strategist.

Penguin2:
I believe all those who blamed Obi for defecting to NDC can now understand it.

First, Atiku would still have won the ADC ticket.

Second, if by any chance Obi had won it, so this is what he would be dealing with instead of focusing on campaigns.

By the time the matter gets to Appeal and Supreme Courts, Atiku’s camp must have been disoriented by confusion.

Obi is the real master strategist.

fergie001:
Peter Lifu
James Omotosho
Joyce Abulmallik
Ekwo - now suspended

They have about 9 Judges there but any political case(s) that the man has an interest, goes to the three.

These ones na it's gone! Higher Courts will quash the case in favour of Mark.
It's a bad case for Nafiu ab initio. The fact he was in the NEC meeting and signed in attendance says it all, just forget the trial Court and look up to the higher Courts.

Tjra:
Peter Obi is a crook wey sabi games

He escaped this one but he won't escape 2027 😡

yarimo:
Nafiu bala is ADC authentic national chairman

Lanretoye:
See drama,so if the court rules against David marks camp what will happen to their convention and primaries?

fergie001:
Peter Lifu
James Omotosho
Joyce Abulmallik
Ekwo - now suspended

They have about 9 Judges there but any political case(s) that the man has an interest, goes to the three.

These ones na it's gone! Higher Courts will quash the case in favour of Mark.
It's a bad case for Nafiu ab initio. The fact he was in the NEC meeting and signed in attendance says it all, just forget the trial Court and look up to the higher Courts.

yarimo:
Nafiu bala is ADC authentic national chairman

iwaeda:
Wike Boasts Of Helping APC Use Judiciary To Kill Osun LG Funds Case, Warns Party Leaders Against Ingratitude

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has openly boasted that he assisted certain elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in deploying the judiciary to frustrate the Osun State local government allocation lawsuit.

In a video now circulating widely on social media and obtained by SaharaReporters, Wike made the claim while addressing a crowd in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The former Rivers governor accused the APC National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Basiru, of benefitting from judicial actions against the Osun State Government without knowing those who did the work behind the scenes.

The suit in question led to the withholding of local government funds in Osun State, a development widely seen as targeting the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke as opposition in the state.

Wike, who spoke angrily, suggested that the court action supporting the APC’s position against the Osun government did not happen by chance, boasting that powerful political forces worked quietly to ensure the outcome.

“Don’t take our support for Mr President for granted,” Wike warned, in an apparent message to APC leaders defending Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara. “You have to be careful about the statements you make. You have to be very careful.”

He accused Basiru of political ingratitude, claiming the APC was enjoying in Osun State without understanding who engineered their advantage.

“Today, you are enjoying in Osun. You don’t know those who did the work,” Wike said. “You are opening your mouth to talk about Rivers State.”

https://saharareporters.com/2026/01/08/wike-boasts-helping-apc-use-judiciary-kill-osun-lg-funds-case-warns-party-leaders

Minister Wike has warned the National Secretary of the APC, Ajibola Basiru to stay clear of Rivers State.
Lol 😆 https://t.co/sNKjJfb8qn pic.twitter.com/E9SgSwASil

— Emma ik Umeh (Tcee )🇳🇬 (@emmaikumeh) January 5, 2026

Parachoko:
Gombe is saying he didn't sign, but you're claiming he signed

Who will the court believe between the two of you?

FSBoperator:
That's how dubious the Mark factions is.

They will later get Nwosu to send a resignation letter purported from Gonbe that he had resigned as deputy National chairman.

There is also the Kachikwu faction that was in court seeking to have Nwosu removed long before Atiku and co gate crashed the party.

Kachikwu is before the courts claiming that Nwosu's tenure had since elapsed and was seeking from the court to have Nwosu removed and fresh elections for the party excos.

Even Gombe will still have to contend with the case brought by Kachikwu as it is Kachikwu that has a solid case since Gonbe was part of Nwosu's tenure .

So at the end, it might be Kachikwu's faction that will be recognised by the courts.

Penguin2:
I believe all those who blamed Obi for defecting to NDC can now understand it.
First, Atiku would still have won the ADC ticket.
Second, if by any chance Obi had won it, so this is what he would be dealing with instead of focusing on campaigns.
By the time the matter gets to Appeal and Supreme Courts, Atiku’s camp must have been disoriented by confusion.
Obi is the real master strategist.

lexylaw40:
The “president-elect” saw in Obi's presidential bid, a good chance to reduce the winning chances of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

The governorship candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in Oyo State, Tawfiq Akinwale, [/b]on Wednesday [b]stated that the “President-elect” Bola Tinubu asked popular economist, Prof Pat Utomi to step down for Peter Obi in the buildup to the 2023 general elections.

Akinwale made this revelation while he appeared as a guest on a radio programme on 101.7 YES FM, Ibadan, Oyo State, while alleging that Obi received campaign funds from Utomi, whom he described as Tinubu's "son."

The LP aspirant, who spoke in Yoruba language, said "In the buildup to the 2023 elections, Obi who had purchased the nomination form of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), suddenly announced his exit from the party.

"Initially, Pat Utomi had secured the LP's presidential ticket, but when Peter Obi said he resigned from the PDP and joined the LP. Bola Tinubu, a master political strategist, quickly told Utomi, that everyone knows to be his son to step down for Obi.

"The “president-elect” saw in Obi's presidential bid, a good chance to reduce the winning chances of the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar.

"What Peter Obi didn't know is much more that what he knows, he started collecting campaign funds from Utomi, while Tinubu was giving the money to Utomi.

"This went on until Obi's presidential campaign got to a stage it went beyond target. Obi was used without him knowing," Akinwale said after announcing his departure from the party.

Obi defected to the LP after resigning his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and also withdrawing from the presidential race under the party.

The former governor consequently joined the race for the party’s presidential ticket, while Professor Pat Utomi, in June 2022 stepped down for him to emerge as the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, unopposed in Asaba, Delta State.

https://saharareporters.com/2023/05/24/how-president-elect-tinubu-funded-peter-obis-campaign-reduce-winning-chances-atiku-oyo

Klington:
Obi's smart exit buried that joke of a party.
Obi is the smartest politician ever in the history of humanity. He's the real master strategist.

newsbook:
Anambra State governor, Chief Willie Obiano has re-echoed his allegation that his predecessor, Mr Peter Obi demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him for sponsoring his election in 2013.

Obiano and his predecessor, Obi have had a frosty relationship shortly after his swearing in.

Obi has however denied that he demanded for the sum of N7.5billion from Obiano, saying that his problem with him was his (Obiano’s) underperformance.

Obi said if he needed the said sum, he would have simply taken it from the N75billion he left for the Obiano administration at the end of his tenure.

But Governor Obiano while speaking on Wednesday evening at Ezechima Primary School, Onitsha where he inaugurated his reelection campaigns in Onitsha North Council Area, said the clarification became necessary because of the recent accusations against him by the former Governor.

He stated that his predecessor had demanded the sum of N7.5billion from him as funds spent in prosecuting the election on his behalf, but that he refused to pay the money because it was not true.

Obiano said he refused to pay because he strongly believed that public funds should be used for public good, and not to settle godfathers.

These, he said, was the reason they fell apart.

The governor said that another reason he refused to pay the money was because he was aware that enough money was raised for his campaign by his friends and associates, all of which were never accounted for by the former governor.

On the actual sum the former Governor claimed he left behind, Governor Obiano made it clear that he inherited liability of about N127 billion debt from him in contracts awarded and other responsibilities, which he has been religiously undertaking in the spirit of continuity.

He said Obi flagged off several roads even on the day he was leaving office and saddled him with the burden of paying for it, but he assured the people that he has his eyes on the ball and will not allow anything to distract him from fulfilling his promises.

The Chairman of the Governor’s Re-election Campaign Committee, Chief Victor Umeh said APGA as the political spirit of Ndigbo, has in the past three and half years, availed Anambra good governance at its best, reminding the people that the upcoming guber election was not about Willie Obiano but about ensuring that the state remained free from political godfatherism.

A former Central Bank Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo in his speech said that at this time, the State needs a tested hand like Governor Obiano who has the experience and expertise to effectively steer her affairs.

https://dailypost.ng/2017/10/19/peter-obi-demanded-n7-5bn-sponsoring-election%e2%80%8e-obiano-insists/

anonimi:


The same clueless chap that his own protege kicked out of APGA in 2014 before Atiku rescued him from political wilderness five years later?

Smartest indeed.

fergie001:
Assigned to Peter Lifu?

ADC must make sure Lifu doesn't handle that suit otherwise it's gone!

Scamburster:
Oga go find something doing, stop constituting nuisance everytime with this your boring write up.

chuksikem:
What exactly is peter obi doing in Anambra state?

Am confused to say the least, please someone should tell me because the anambra i visited has degenerated so much,

chuksikem:
Was in awka some days back ,its really shameful, my heart bleeds for my state, from amansea to awka is still the same, pothole riddled roads, non-functioning street lights, refuse littering the entire state capital from arroma junction down to Ziks avenue, ,arthur eze,unizik junction,court road,udoka housing estate etc are still the same, no changes at all, the state capital still looks like a glorified village,

Civil servants and pensioners are been owed 3 MONTHS salary, so many abandoned projects yet the woman sounding governor is always in abuja 24/7.

Please peter obi's handlers on nl should please enlighten us,

A state that has the highest number of successful human beings in the entire black nation, it hurts,

Wish soludo had won ,

Gotocourt:
Wike is behind the scene, Atiku should forget it🤷🏿.

SixSeven:
Didn't they say he is a democrat? A builder of men? A visionary? That man is just a greedy old man. Who was it that said if you let Tinubu in, he will grab more than he can take? Think about being a landlord of Lagos and Rivers 🤡

The greedy can never be satisfied. What they condemned when they were in opposition, now they are doing it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtjpjOPjuUk

Those who wanted to rewrite his story just made me chuckle. Guy didn't want Fashola serve a second term simply because he wanted to be President. He didn't want anyone to have a record to be compared to him or outshine him. They are just lucky Fashola did not show craze like Ambode did, someone they eventually sent away under the guise of GAC. They now claimed that he made Fashola, he built Lagos, Ambode did not follow master plan. You see how their stories are not consistent. They then called Osinbajo a betrayer. These ones are lords and serfs. Those who refuse to learn history are doomed to repeat it

Amaechi's Defection To APC Is Root Of Rivers State Crisis -- Wike Pt.1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWaYorTOuZc?si=KB-Qbb9SJ5X5AYK-

yarimo:
Nafiu bala is ADC authentic national chairman

Penguin2:
I believe all those who blamed Obi for defecting to NDC can now understand it.

First, Atiku would still have won the ADC ticket.

Second, if by any chance Obi had won it, so this is what he would be dealing with instead of focusing on campaigns.

By the time the matter gets to Appeal and Supreme Courts, Atiku’s camp must have been disoriented by confusion.

Obi is the real master strategist.