By News Maker Media in Abuja
The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken another turn, with the Federal High Court in Abuja fixing September 28, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications in a suit challenging the party’s leadership structure.
The case, filed by ADC member Nafiu-Bala Gombe, was listed for hearing on Monday but was adjourned after the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, was unavailable.
Gombe is asking the court to stop former Senate President David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as the lawful leaders of the ADC.
In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, he is also challenging the process that produced Mark as the party’s leader, alleging that it violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
The ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu are named as the first to fifth defendants.
The dispute followed Nwosu’s decision to step aside in July 2025, after which the party’s leadership was transferred to Mark and Aregbesola. The arrangement subsequently triggered legal challenges from some party members.
Earlier Court Ruling Favoured Mark-Led Structure.
In a separate suit filed by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, the Federal High Court had earlier upheld the Mark-led leadership structure.
Justice Musa Liman dismissed Abejide’s case, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction to intervene in the internal affairs of the party. The judge also held that Abejide had failed to establish that his rights were breached by the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola.
The court further ruled that Nwosu’s transfer of authority to Mark did not contravene the ADC constitution, declaring the new leadership valid and consistent with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
Justice Liman awarded N2 million costs against Abejide in favour of each defendant and imposed an additional N10 million penalty on his lawyer.
Despite the ruling, the leadership dispute has continued in other courts.
Gombe, a former ADC vice-chairman, had earlier challenged the Mark-led arrangement and sought orders stopping what he described as an unlawful takeover of the party. He also disputed claims concerning his position within the ADC.
On March 12, 2026, the Court of Appeal dismissed an appeal filed by Mark, describing the case as incompetent and lacking merit. It also ordered the parties to preserve the status quo and refrain from taking steps capable of affecting the proceedings at the Federal High Court.
Following the decision, the Mark-led faction approached the Supreme Court after INEC withdrew its recognition of the faction.
However, on April 30, the Supreme Court directed Mark to return to the Federal High Court for determination of the issues arising from the dispute.
The apex court also vacated the earlier status quo order, describing it as “unnecessary, unwarranted and improper.”
With the latest adjournment, the September 28 hearing is expected to provide another important judicial development in the prolonged battle over who controls the ADC.
The legal dispute remains unresolved, with the rival claims of the party’s leadership structure still before the courts.
