The leadership crisis within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a fresh turn on Monday as opposing parties in a court case challenging the party’s leadership structure accused each other of deliberately delaying proceedings.
The disagreement surfaced at the Federal High Court in Abuja during the hearing of a suit filed by ADC member Nafiu-Bala Gombe against the party and its current leadership led by former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Peter Lifu, who presided over the matter, expressed concern over what he described as apparent attempts by certain individuals to stall the case.
Following the remark, counsel to the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), alleged that Gombe was responsible for frustrating the hearing.
“We know them and I can furnish my lord with the name. It is the plaintiff,” Aruwa told the court.
However, Gombe’s lawyer, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), dismissed the allegation and accused the defendants of deliberately frustrating the hearing despite an earlier Supreme Court directive ordering accelerated proceedings in the case.
Emukpoeruo argued that the defence team had continued to file multiple applications, including motions seeking the recusal of the trial judge, which he said were capable of delaying the matter.
According to him, the defendants also served court processes late, contrary to the spirit of the Supreme Court’s order for an expedited hearing.
Responding, counsel to former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, Realwan Okpanachi, rejected the allegations and insisted that the plaintiff was the party responsible for delaying the suit.
He told the court that after the Supreme Court directed parties to return to the trial court for accelerated hearing, the matter was scheduled to continue before the former trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.
According to him, Gombe later wrote to the Chief Judge requesting the transfer of the case from Justice Nwite, a move he said contributed to delays in the proceedings.
The position was supported by other defence lawyers, including counsel to former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, Peter Oyewole, and lawyer to the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, Kalu-Kalu Agu.
Following arguments from both sides, Justice Lifu stood down the matter for a ruling.
Gombe is asking the court to nullify the leadership arrangement, arguing that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the National Working Committee violated provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, lists the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.