ABUJA – The Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to grant an application seeking to stop the David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) pending the hearing of the substantive suit.
Justice Emeka Nwite rejected the three prayers sought in the ex-parte motion filed by Mr. Nafiu-Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, and moved by his counsel, Michael Agber.
Instead, the judge directed Gombe, the plaintiff, to put all the defendants on notice to show cause why the motion should not be granted.
The matter was adjourned until September 15 for the defendants to respond. The ruling was delivered on September 4, with the certified true copy of the order released on Thursday.
David Mark, a former Senate President, is the current National Chairman of the ADC, while ex-Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, is the National Secretary of the party.
The court’s decision contradicts reports circulating in some sections of the media.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, Gombe listed the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants.
In his ex-parte motion dated and filed on September 2, Gombe sought three reliefs. He prayed the court to restrain INEC from recognising Mark and Aregbesola as chairman and secretary of the ADC, respectively, pending the hearing of a motion on notice.
He also sought an order restraining both men and their supporters from parading themselves as national officers of the party until the substantive motion was heard.
The plaintiff further urged the court to stop INEC from dealing with them in any capacity as ADC executives.
