ADC Crisis: New Judge Slates June 3rd for Final Hearing of Nafiu Baal’s Case

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled June 3 for the hearing of a lawsuit instituted by Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who is seeking to prevent Senator David Mark and other members of the current leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) from presenting themselves as the party’s legitimate leaders.

The case was initially handled by Justice Emeka Nwite but was reassigned after his recent elevation to the Court of Appeal. Hearing notices have reportedly been issued and served on all parties involved. One of the legal representatives in the matter confirmed the development.

Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, is challenging the emergence of David Mark as National Chairman, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, and other members of the interim National Working Committee (NWC). He argues that their appointments violated both the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, lists the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

Earlier, Justice Nwite had suspended proceedings indefinitely after Gombe requested that the court await the outcome of an appeal before the Supreme Court. However, on April 30, the Supreme Court overturned a Court of Appeal ruling that had directed parties to maintain the previous leadership arrangement pending resolution of the dispute. The apex court subsequently instructed all parties to return to the Federal High Court for an accelerated hearing of the matter.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, INEC restored the David Mark-led leadership on its official records after previously removing it. When the matter returned before Justice Nwite on May 8, Gombe’s counsel, Luka Haruna (SAN), sought the transfer of the case to another judge, indicating that a request had already been submitted to the Chief Judge.

The application was strongly opposed by lawyers representing the ADC, David Mark, Aregbesola, and Ralph Nwosu. They argued that the request had not been formally served on them and described it as an attempt to delay proceedings. The defence team characterized the move as “forum shopping” and maintained their confidence in the impartiality and integrity of Justice Nwite. They further argued that the transfer request breached established legal procedures.

The opposing lawyers nevertheless requested an adjournment because a Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court’s judgment was not yet available. Justice Nwite consequently adjourned the matter indefinitely until the document could be obtained.

Meanwhile, political developments within the ADC have continued. On May 27, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar secured the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 election after defeating other aspirants, including former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, at a national convention. In a separate convention conducted by another faction of the party, Dumebi Kachikwu was adopted as the ADC’s presidential candidate. Kachikwu had also been the party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election.