The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another turn on Friday as the Federal High Court in Abuja dismissed preliminary objections filed by the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, in a suit challenging the legitimacy of the party’s current national leadership.
Justice Peter Lifu held that the applications filed by Mark and Aregbesola lacked merit and appeared designed to delay proceedings in the substantive suit.
The court consequently awarded a total cost of N3 million against Mark, Aregbesola and the ADC in favour of the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala-Gombe.
Mark had urged the court to refer a number of legal questions to the Court of Appeal through interrogatories. However, Justice Lifu ruled that the issues raised neither affected the jurisdiction of the court nor warranted appellate intervention at this stage.
“All the issues for referral are peripheral, academic, antithetical and do not, in any way, constitute any serious challenge to this court,” the judge held.
The court also dismissed a similar application filed by Aregbesola, describing it as an attempt to delay the hearing of the substantive matter.
Justice Lifu awarded N1 million in costs against each of Mark, Aregbesola and the ADC.
However, the court equally dismissed an application by Bala-Gombe seeking to amend his originating summons, holding that the application lacked merit. It awarded N500,000 each in favour of the ADC, Mark and Aregbesola.
The judge further declined applications by three party members seeking to be joined in the suit.
Those affected are National Working Committee member Nkemakolam Ukandu, the party’s Abia State governorship candidate, Kalu Kalu Agu, and the party’s National Youth Leader, Balarabe Usman.
Justice Lifu held that they were not necessary parties since their interests were adequately represented by the ADC and its national leadership, who are already defendants in the case.
The substantive suit was instituted by Bala-Gombe in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, challenging the process that produced the party’s current national executive committee.
Named as defendants are the ADC, its National Chairman, Senator David Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC); and the party’s immediate past National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Bala-Gombe is asking the court to determine whether the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as national leaders of the party complied with the provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
He contends that the convention that produced the current leadership violated the party’s constitution and applicable electoral laws, and is therefore invalid.
The defendants have denied the claims and opposed the plaintiff’s attempt to amend his originating summons.
Following the determination of the preliminary applications, Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until September 14 for the hearing of the substantive suit.
The case is one of several legal disputes arising from the recent restructuring of the ADC leadership as the party positions itself ahead of the 2027 general elections.