The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered a sine die adjournment after the plaintiff informed the court that he had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, stems from a leadership dispute within the ADC following the emergence of David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the party’s leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had, on 30 April 2026, dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark and set aside the Court of Appeal’s order staying proceedings in the matter.
He said, “The Supreme Court found the appeal lacked merit.”
Haruna further informed the court that the plaintiff had, on May 4, 2026, written to the chief judge requesting the reassignment of the case, urging the court to await administrative direction.
However, the defendants opposed the request, arguing that it was aimed at delaying proceedings and frustrating the accelerated hearing previously ordered by appellate courts.
Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, said the defence had not been formally notified of the application, describing it as an ambush and a delay tactic. Counsel for the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, also faulted the move, calling it “forum shopping and judge shopping”.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not act on the chief judge’s correspondence without hearing all parties, saying doing so would violate the principle of fair hearing.
The judge, therefore, adjourned the matter indefinitely, stating that further proceedings would await the Supreme Court judgment records and any directive from the Chief Judge.
