Abuja, May 8 2026. A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a major case over control of the African Democratic Congress indefinitely.
Justice Emeka Nwite put the case on hold after counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, informed the court that a formal request had already been sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court asking that the matter be reassigned.
Haruna told the court the letter seeking the transfer was dated May 4, 2026.
The suit, marked FHC ABJ CS 1819 2025, is challenging the leadership of the ADC under former Senate President David Mark and other party figures.
Before the case was adjourned, the plaintiff’s lawyer revealed that the Supreme Court had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark against the ongoing proceedings.
He further disclosed that the apex court also set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order that had stopped proceedings in the main suit.
The move to transfer the case sparked heated reactions from lawyers representing the defendants.
Counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, accused the plaintiff of engaging in forum shopping and attempting to shop for a preferred judge.
Another defence lawyer, P.I. Oyewole, who represented the fifth defendant, argued that the request was an attempt to pressure the Chief Judge into what he described as judicial rascality.
Delivering his ruling, Justice Nwite said the court could not consider the transfer request without first hearing from all parties involved.
He warned that acting without giving the defendants an opportunity to respond could violate their fundamental rights.
The judge then adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow all parties file the Certified True Copy CTC of the Supreme Court judgment and ensure the transfer request letter is properly served on the defendants.
The court also stated that it would wait for any directive from the Chief Judge concerning the reassignment request.
The suit was filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking a court order stopping David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
Gombe argued that their emergence as party leaders violated the ADC constitution as well as provisions of the Electoral Act.
