ADC leadership crisis: Court adjourns Gombe’s suit indefinitely over Supreme Court judgment dispute

By Johnson Arua

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe over the leadership tussle in the African Democratic Congress (ADC), citing unresolved procedural issues surrounding a recent Supreme Court judgment.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after hearing arguments from counsel to the plaintiff and defendants on an application seeking the reassignment of the case to another judge.

The court noted that although parties referred to a Supreme Court ruling delivered on April 30, 2026, none had presented a certified true copy (CTC) of the judgment.

The judge said the absence of the official document made it difficult for the court to take further judicial steps.

Justice Nwite also faulted the plaintiff’s letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the case be transferred. He held that the letter was not served on the defendants and could not be acted upon without hearing from all parties.

“Taking any decision on such a letter without hearing from the defendants will amount to a breach of their fundamental rights,” the judge ruled, adding that the court could not also act on a communication addressed directly to the Chief Judge.

He consequently adjourned the case indefinitely to allow parties to properly file the CTC of the Supreme Court judgment, serve relevant processes on all sides, and await further administrative directives from the Chief Judge.

Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC, had approached the court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, challenging the emergence of Sen. David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as leaders of the party. He joined the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

At Friday’s proceedings, Gombe’s counsel, Luka Haruna (SAN), informed the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the second defendant, Mark, on April 30, 2026, and set aside a stay of proceedings earlier granted by the Court of Appeal.

Haruna also disclosed that Gombe had written to the Chief Judge requesting reassignment of the case, but acknowledged that the letter had not been served on the defendants. He urged the court to await the administrative decision of the Chief Judge.

However, counsel to the ADC, Rilwan Okpanachi; Suleiman Usman (SAN) for Mark; Mohammed Sheriff for Aregbesola; and P.I. Oyewole for Nwosu, opposed the application for transfer, describing it as improper and prejudicial.

Okpanachi disputed aspects of the plaintiff’s interpretation of the Supreme Court ruling, insisting that parties were yet to obtain the certified true copy.

He also criticised the reassignment request, describing it as an “ambush” and an attempt to undermine ongoing judicial proceedings.

Usman (SAN) also faulted the move, describing the private letter to the Chief Judge as a breach of procedure and an attempt at “forum shopping.”

He argued that litigants cannot choose the judge to hear their case and urged the court to continue with the matter once the Supreme Court judgment is properly placed before it.

Other counsel aligned with the objections, urging the court to maintain its earlier order of indefinite adjournment until all procedural gaps are resolved.

Justice Nwite subsequently held that the case would remain on hold until the parties comply with the court’s directives and the administrative position of the Chief Judge is made clear.