The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress has taken another dramatic turn after the Federal High Court in Abuja once again adjourned indefinitely a high-profile suit challenging the party’s leadership structure, deepening uncertainty within one of Nigeria’s fast-rising opposition political platforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The suit, filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, seeks to challenge the emergence of former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola in the party’s leadership hierarchy. The development has continued to fuel internal tensions within the party at a time when opposition realignments and political defections are intensifying across Nigeria’s political landscape.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court adjourned the matter indefinitely after fresh disagreements emerged among lawyers representing the parties involved in the case. The dispute centered on a letter reportedly written by the plaintiff to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
At the resumed hearing, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Haruna, informed the court that the Supreme Court had already delivered judgment on April 30 regarding an interlocutory appeal connected to the matter. According to him, the apex court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit and also lifted an earlier order from the Court of Appeal that had temporarily stayed proceedings in the substantive suit.
However, Haruna further disclosed that his client had already submitted a formal request dated May 4, 2026, asking the Chief Judge to transfer the matter to another court. He urged Justice Nwite to suspend further proceedings pending the administrative decision of the Chief Judge regarding the reassignment request.
The request immediately triggered fierce opposition from the defence team, which accused the plaintiff of attempting to deliberately frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court. Lawyers representing the defendants argued that the move amounted to “forum shopping” and an attempt to manipulate the judicial process by seeking a preferred judge to handle the matter.
Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, reportedly faulted the plaintiff for allegedly ambushing the defence team with the transfer request without prior notice. He maintained that litigants do not possess the authority to choose the judges who preside over their cases and warned that such actions could undermine the integrity of the judicial process.
Another defence lawyer, Sulaiman Usman, also condemned the application, describing it as “judge shopping” and insisting that the court should not encourage what he termed a dangerous legal trend. The defence further argued that the matter should proceed based on the accelerated hearing directive already affirmed by higher courts.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not take any position on the plaintiff’s letter without giving all parties the opportunity to be heard. He noted that since the correspondence was officially addressed to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it at that stage. The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely, otherwise known legally as “sine die,” pending further directives and proper filing of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment.
The crisis has become one of the most significant internal disputes facing the ADC in recent months, particularly following efforts by the party to reposition itself as a stronger opposition force ahead of the next presidential election cycle. David Mark’s emergence as a major figure within the party, alongside Rauf Aregbesola, had already generated mixed reactions among some longstanding members who questioned the legality and constitutionality of the new leadership arrangement.
Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the ADC, insists that he never resigned from his position and argues that based on the party’s constitution, he should have assumed leadership following the exit of former national chairman Ralph Nwosu. Bala is therefore seeking court orders restraining David Mark, Aregbesola, and other party officials from parading themselves as legitimate leaders of the ADC.
Political analysts say the prolonged legal uncertainty could affect the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections, especially at a time when several prominent politicians are reportedly considering alliances and strategic moves ahead of the next electoral cycle. The ADC has increasingly attracted attention in recent months amid rising dissatisfaction with the country’s dominant political parties and growing calls for a stronger opposition coalition.
The latest indefinite adjournment now leaves the future direction of the party hanging in uncertainty, with observers warning that prolonged internal disputes could weaken the ADC’s momentum at a crucial political moment. For now, all eyes remain on the Federal High Court and the Chief Judge’s next administrative decision as the legal battle over the party’s leadership continues to unfold.
