May 07, (THEWILL) — The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, 2026, for the hearing of a suit filed by former Deputy National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the legitimacy of the party’s leadership structure currently headed by former Senate President, David Mark.
THEWILL reports that Justice Emeka Nwite will preside over the matter, which has regained judicial momentum following a Supreme Court decision directing all parties in the dispute to return to the trial court for determination of substantive issues arising from the long-running leadership crisis within the opposition party.
The suit, instituted in September 2025, seeks to restrain the Mark-led National Working Committee of the ADC from presenting itself as the legitimate leadership of the party, amid competing claims over constitutional succession and internal party authority.
Bala is also asking the court to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the David Mark-led executive, arguing that such recognition contradicts the provisions of the ADC constitution.
He contends that, following the exit of party founder, Ralph Nwosu, he was entitled, as Deputy National Chairman, to assume leadership of the party in line with its internal succession framework.
The respondents in the suit include Nafiu Bala Gombe, the African Democratic Congress, the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and other stakeholders within the party structure.
The leadership tussle has its roots in the post-Nwosu transition period, when disagreements emerged over who constitutionally inherits control of the party’s national executive structure.
Bala’s initial approach to the Federal High Court in 2025 triggered a series of legal battles after he sought interim orders restraining INEC from recognising the Mark-led leadership while claiming entitlement to the position of Acting National Chairman.
In response, the Mark-led faction challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, arguing that the matter was strictly an internal party affair and not justiciable in court.
The dispute escalated to the Court of Appeal, which on March 12, 2026, dismissed Mark’s appeal as unmeritorious and ordered parties to return to the lower court while maintaining the status quo ante bellum.
The uncertainty surrounding the leadership structure prompted INEC on April 1, 2026, to suspend recognition of both factions pending final judicial clarification, effectively freezing official dealings with the party’s rival camps.
The Supreme Court later intervened in the broader litigation process, affirming the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership structure while directing that remaining substantive issues be resolved at the Federal High Court level.
That directive has now brought the matter back before Justice Emeka Nwite’s court, where Friday’s hearing is expected to address key constitutional questions regarding succession, internal party democracy, and the legality of competing claims to leadership.
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