ADC challenges court jurisdiction in leadership disputes

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has challenged the Jurisdiction of the Federal High Court, Abuja, to entertain a lawsuit that tried to erase the leadership of the party led by the former Senate President, David Mark.

In the preliminary objection submitted on Monday by his legal advisor, Shuibu Aruwa (San), ADC argued that the actions carried out by the former Deputy Chairperson, Nafiu Bala Gombe, were brought in a bad faith and abuse of the judicial process.

The party stated that this case was truly internal affairs and, thus, could not be justified.

“The court in Nigeria, including the Supreme Court, consistently argues that the dispute that touched the leadership of political parties was outside the judicial jurisdiction,” ADC submitted.

The party urged the court to issue the lawsuit.

According to ADC, political parties are voluntary associations, and disagreements between members and organizations are beyond the legal force of court to be resolved.

This issue arose on Judge Day Emeka Nwite ordered members of the ADC National Work Committee (NWC), led by Mark, to emerge and show reasons why the Independent National Election Commission (Inec) should not be detained to recognize them.

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At the trial, only ADC and Inec were represented.

Plaintiff’s advisor, Michael Agber, told the court that all the necessary processes had been served at NWC through the party. However, ADC’s lawyer, Aruwa, noted that he was only given a briefing to represent the party and had submitted a process that opposed the temporary orders sought.

Inec advisor, Kingsley Magbai, also confirmed the reception of the summons originating. But Judge Nwite observed that a copy of the service in an empty court file, emphasized that the law requires private services from the court process at each respondent rather than service through the party.

As a result, the judge postponed the problem until September 30, directed the Plaintiff to ensure the right service to all respondents.

Gombe, who claimed ADC’s leadership, had sought a temporary order that arrested Senator Mark and the fact was from a party leader. The lawsuit, marked by FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, included ADC, Mark, former Governor of State Osun Rauf Aregbesola, Inec, and former National Chair Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

Previously, on September 4, Judge Nwite had refused to provide an ex-party gombe application but ordered that the defendants be placed on the notification. This case emerged shortly after Ine renewed his notes to reflect the NWC led by Mark as party leadership.

The dispute came with an adc adoption background by a coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as a platform to challenge the re -election of the Tinubu Bola President in 2027.

Following the emergence of the coalition, Chairman of the Party Founder, Nwosu, announced the dissolution of the existing structure to open the way for new leadership ahead of the general election.