ADC crisis: Court fixes date to hear Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s suit

The Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled April 14 for hearing in a suit challenging the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice Emeka Nwite fixed the date after confirming that hearing notices had been served on all parties involved in the case.

The suit was filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe and listed the ADC, Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

Gombe is asking the court to restrain the Mark-led group from presenting itself as the party’s national leadership.

At a previous sitting, the court adjourned the matter indefinitely pending a decision from the Court of Appeal after lawyers informed it that an appeal had been filed against an earlier ruling.

The Court of Appeal later directed parties to return to the trial court and maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive suit.

Following that decision, INEC on April 1 removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its official portal as national chairman and national secretary of the ADC respectively.

In response, the Mark-led leadership filed a motion on April 7 asking the court to compel INEC to restore the names and to fast-track hearing of the case.

They also urged the court to dismiss the suit outright, arguing that it lacks jurisdiction.

In a preliminary objection, Mark’s legal team maintained that Gombe does not have the legal standing to bring the case, claiming he had resigned his position as deputy national chairman of the party.

They further argued that the dispute relates to internal party affairs, which they say are not subject to court intervention, and that no valid cause of action has been established.

Aregbesola, in a counter-affidavit, also asked the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that Gombe had ceased to be part of the party’s national executive structure after his resignation.

He added that the party formally notified INEC of the resignation in line with its procedures.

Aregbesola also requested ₦50 million in costs, saying the case imposed unnecessary burden on him.

Chief Ralph Nwosu, in his own objection, argued that the case should not proceed because the plaintiff failed to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms within the party before approaching the court.