The Chief Judge of the Federal High Court has reassigned a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to a new judge.
PrimeTimes Nigeria reports that the case, filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala, has been transferred to Justice Peter Lifu for adjudication.
The former presiding judge, Justice Emeka Nwite, was among 12 judges recently recommended by the National Judicial Council (NJC) for appointment as justices of the Court of Appeal.
Bala is seeking to stop the ADC National Chairman, David Mark; National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola; and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee from acting as leaders of the party.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the plaintiff argued that the emergence of the interim leadership violated provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
The defendants in the suit are the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and former ADC National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Nwosu had stepped down before the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The reassignment came weeks after the Supreme Court directed parties in the dispute to return to the Federal High Court for accelerated hearing.
On April 30, the apex court set aside a Court of Appeal decision that ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the leadership tussle.
INEC had relied on the appellate court’s order to withdraw recognition of the Mark-led ADC leadership.
Transfer Request Opposed
When the matter came up on May 8 after the Supreme Court’s decision, Bala’s counsel, Luka Haruna, informed the court that a letter had been sent to the Chief Judge requesting transfer of the case to another judge.
The request was opposed by lawyers representing the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.
They described the move as an attempt at “forum shopping” and argued that it could frustrate the directive for an accelerated hearing.
The defence lawyers also said they had confidence in the impartiality and integrity of Justice Nwite’s court.
Following the disagreement, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely pending receipt of a certified true copy of the Supreme Court judgment.
With the reassignment, Justice Lifu is now expected to hear the dispute over the ADC leadership.