The Federal High Court in Abuja has set Friday, 8 May 2026, for the hearing of a suit filed by former ADC National Deputy Chairman Nafiu‑Bala Gombe against Senator David Mark and other party officials over a leadership dispute in the African Democratic Party (ADC).
According to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday, the court issued hearing notices to the parties before Justice Emeka Nwite, the trial judge. The date was fixed following an application filed by Gombe’s counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Luka Haruna, on 5 May 2026. The letter, addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, requested an accelerated hearing in accordance with a recent Court of Appeal judgment.
The application, signed by SANs Robert Emukpoeruo, Lukman O. Fagbemi and Lukas Musa Haruna, stated that the Supreme Court had dismissed Senator Mark’s interlocutory appeal on 30 April 2026. It attached the Court of Appeal’s order directing an expedited hearing of the case and asked that the matter be brought to Justice Nwite’s attention for prompt action.
Justice Nwite had previously adjourned the case indefinitely on 14 April 2026 at Gombe’s request, awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision on Mark’s appeal. At that hearing, the judge rejected an application by the Mark‑led ADC leadership seeking to proceed with all pending motions, including the substantive case.
The suit, filed under reference FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, seeks an injunction restraining Senator Mark, National Secretary Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and other defendants – including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and former ADC Chairman Ralph Nwosu – from presenting themselves as the party’s leaders. Gombe argues that the election of Mark and Aregbesola as ADC officials violates the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
The forthcoming hearing is expected to clarify the legal standing of the contested leadership and could have significant implications for the ADC’s internal governance and its participation in forthcoming elections.
