The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned Senator David Mark and other key figures in the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership tussle to appear before it on September 15.
The court is seeking explanations on why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not be barred from recognising Mark’s faction as the party’s legitimate leadership.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the summons on September 4, following his refusal to grant an ex-parte application brought by Nafiu Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who is also laying claim to the party’s national chairmanship.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 and dated September 2, Gombe asked the court for an interim order restraining INEC from recognising Senator Mark as the National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola, a former Osun State Governor, as Interim National Secretary of the party—pending the final determination of the case.
Other defendants named in the suit include the ADC, INEC, former ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, and Aregbesola.
While refusing the interim injunction, Justice Nwite directed that the defendants be served and appear in court to show cause why the reliefs sought by the plaintiff should not be granted.
This legal challenge is one of several ongoing disputes within the ADC, stemming from INEC’s recent recognition of the Mark-led interim National Working Committee.
In a related suit, ADC members Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila are also contesting the legitimacy of the interim leadership. They argue that the appointments of Mark, Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary) violate the ADC’s 2018 constitution, which does not provide for interim positions.
The plaintiffs contend that only a duly convened National Convention or National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting has the authority to dissolve or reconstitute the party’s leadership.
