The case, filed by Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the party, has been transferred to Peter Lifu, a federal high court judge, for adjudication.
Emeka Nwite, the former presiding judge, 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 David Mark, national chairman of the ADC; Rauf Aregbesola, national secretary; and members of the party’s interim national working committee (NWC) from acting as leaders of the party.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the plaintiff contends that the emergence of the interim leadership of the party 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 (INEC), and Ralph Nwosu, a former national chairman of the party who stepped down before the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The reassignment comes weeks after the Supreme Court directed parties in the dispute to return to the federal high court for an accelerated hearing of the matter.
The apex court had, on April 30, set aside a decision of the Court of Appeal that ordered parties to maintain the status quo in the leadership tussle — an order that INEC relied upon in withdrawing recognition of the Mark-led leadership of the ADC.
However, when the matter came up for hearing on May 8 following the apex court’s decision, Luka Haruna, counsel to Bala, informed the court that a letter has been sent to the chief judge requesting that the case be transferred to another judge.
The request was opposed by lawyers representing the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu, who 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 Nwite’s court.
Following the disagreement, Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely pending the receipt of a certified true copy of the supreme court judgement.
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