A high court in Adamawa State, Nigeria, has begun hearing a lawsuit filed by a group of ousted state executives from the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party. The former executives, led by Shehu Yohanna, are seeking to overturn their removal from office by a new steering committee appointed by the party’s national leaders. They argue that their removal was unlawful and premature because their four‑year term had not yet expired.
The plaintiffs have named several defendants, including Umar Sulaiman, Sadiq Dasin, Saidu Komsiri, Babachir Lawal, the ADC National Working Committee (NWC), and Senator David Mark. Defendants’ counsel, Ibrahim Effiong, filed a preliminary objection, contending that the court lacks jurisdiction because the dispute is an internal party matter.
The court ordered the defendants to file their statement of defence, allowing both the objection and the substantive issues to be heard on the next adjourned date, set for the 20th of the month. According to the plaintiffs’ counsel, Yakubu Philemon, the court is being asked to grant an interim injunction to restore the executives to their positions. The defendants’ counsel maintains that the court should not interfere in the ADC’s internal affairs.
The case underscores the ongoing power struggle within the ADC, a party long plagued by internal conflicts and leadership disputes. The Adamawa State High Court’s decision will have significant implications for the party’s leadership and the future of the ousted executives, determining whether their removal was lawful and whether they will be reinstated. As the proceedings continue, political observers and party members are likely to watch closely to see how the dispute is resolved.
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