Court delays ADC suit against David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola after Justice Peter Lifu failed to sit. Next date is 28 September
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, 14 September 2026, put off a case in which Nafiu Bala Gombe, an African Democratic Congress member and former deputy national chairman of the party, seeks to stop former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from acting as leaders of the ADC.
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The sitting listed before Justice Peter Lifu could not go ahead because the judge did not sit. The Court delays ADC suit file, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was then fixed for 28 September for the hearing of pending applications.
Mr Gombe wants an order restraining Senator Mark, Mr Aregbesola and members of the interim National Working Committee from presenting themselves as the party’s leaders.
He argues that their emergence broke the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
The defendants are the ADC, Senator Mark, Mr Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.
The dispute began after Mr Nwosu stepped aside and Senator Mark emerged as head of an interim structure, with Mr Aregbesola as national secretary.
Supporters present that change as a bid to rebuild the party for coming contests. Mr Gombe says the process was unlawful.
The case has already been noisy on procedure. Senator Mark’s camp and the party asked Justice Lifu to recuse himself over alleged bias.
On 16 June the judge dismissed those motions as lacking merit and ordered the ADC and Mr Aregbesola to pay N1m each to Mr Gombe.
Other reports have put related costs higher after further failed applications.
The file has also passed through Justice Emeka Nwite, who at one point adjourned it indefinitely while a Supreme Court interlocutory appeal and a request to transfer the case were sorted.
A separate challenge has already gone the other way. In a judgment widely reported in July, Justice Musa Liman dismissed a suit by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, held that the leadership question was an internal party affair, and said Senator Mark and Mr Aregbesola emerged after a 29 July 2025 National Executive Committee meeting watched by INEC.
That ruling is not today’s business. Monday’s list was Mr Gombe’s case, and it did not start.
Until 28 September the interim officers remain in place and the restraint Mr Gombe seeks remains unheard.
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An adjournment is not a victory for either camp. It is only another pause in a fight over who may speak for the ADC.
