The Federal High Court in Abuja has summoned the interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), led by Senator David Mark, to appear on September 15. The court wants them to explain why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not be prevented from recognizing their authority.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order on September 4 after rejecting an ex parte application filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC.
Gombe, who claims the party’s chairmanship, sought an interim injunction to stop Mark’s faction from presenting themselves as the party’s leaders.
In the lawsuit, referenced as FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 and dated September 2, the plaintiff requested the court to bar INEC from recognizing Mark and his associates as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC until the main issue is resolved.
The defendants include the ADC, Senator Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola (Interim National Secretary), INEC, and former ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Justice Nwite declined to grant the ex parte request, instead ordering that the defendants be formally notified.
He also directed them to appear on September 15 to explain why the plaintiff’s application should not be granted.
This case is one of several legal disputes within the ADC following INEC’s recent recognition of the Mark-led National Working Committee.
In a separate lawsuit, ADC members Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila are challenging the legitimacy of the interim leadership.
They contend that the appointment of Mark, Aregbesola, and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary) violated the ADC’s 2018 constitution, which does not recognize interim leadership positions.
According to these plaintiffs, only a properly convened National Convention or National Executive Committee meeting can dissolve or replace the executive committee.
They also argue that transferring party leadership to Mark and his colleagues contravened a December 2022 ruling by Justice Binta Nyako.
The crisis began after the announcement of a coalition, supported by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, which adopted the ADC as its political platform to challenge President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
Following this, Chief Nwosu dissolved the existing party structures to make way for the coalition’s new leadership.
The matter will continue on September 15.
Meanwhile, the ADC has denied reports claiming the court issued an injunction against Mark and Aregbesola.
In a statement on Thursday, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abdullahi, said some political opponents, after failing to stop INEC’s recognition of the new leadership, resorted to spreading false information.
He clarified that INEC officially recognized Mark and Aregbesola as the party leaders on Wednesday, contradicting reports of a court restraint against them.
Abdullahi explained that Justice Nwite’s ruling rejected the plaintiff’s ex parte application, ordered the defendants to be notified, called for their appearance in court to justify why the application should not be granted, and adjourned the hearing to September 15, 2025.
He described reports to the contrary as deliberate misrepresentations of the court’s decision.
According to Abdullahi, political operatives “who failed to prevent INEC from acknowledging the leadership change in ADC are now spreading fake news. These destabilizing agents will stop at nothing, including distorting court rulings, in their attempts to sow confusion and weaken opposition parties.”
He urged the media and public to be vigilant against misinformation.
