Tension Mounts As Court Shifts Ruling On Contested ADC Leadership Of Mark, Aregbesola
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The Federal High Court in Abuja has postponed its judgment in a suit seeking to stop former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the National Chairman and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The case was instituted by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State.
Justice Musa Suleiman Liman, who had earlier fixed Monday for judgment, rescheduled the ruling to April 14, citing official engagements.
Court officials informed journalists and political actors who had gathered at the court premises in anticipation of the decision about the adjournment. Following the announcement, supporters from both the Abejide camp and the Mark-led faction left the courtroom.
The court had previously slated April 13 for judgment after all parties adopted their final written addresses and presented their arguments.
Abejide, through his counsel Ibrahim Idris (SAN), is challenging what he described as the unlawful transfer of ADC leadership to Mark and Aregbesola.
In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, filed on February 15, 2026, he listed the ADC, former national chairman Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.
He is asking the court to invalidate the alleged handover of party leadership from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola on July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, describing it as “illegal, unlawful, null and void.”
Abejide is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining both men from parading themselves as party leaders, as well as an order preventing INEC from recognising them as interim national officers, arguing that due process under the Electoral Act was not followed.
However, the defendants have urged the court to dismiss the suit.
The ADC, represented by Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), Ralph Nwosu through P.I. Oyewole, David Mark’s counsel Rilwan Okpanachi, Rauf Aregbesola’s lawyer I.R. Abdullahi, and INEC’s counsel Anthony Onyeri all argued that the plaintiff lacks the legal standing to bring the case.
They further maintained that the dispute relates to the internal affairs of a political party, which is not subject to judicial intervention.
The defence also argued that Mark’s emergence as leader followed a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, rather than the July 2 event cited by the plaintiff, and urged the court to dismiss the suit as lacking merit and being merely academic.
