Nafiu‑Bala Gombe filed a suit in the Federal High Court, Abuja, demanding that the David Mark‑led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) be barred from presenting itself as the party's leadership. The case, recorded as FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, lists the ADC, Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Chief Ralph Nwosu as the first to fifth defendants. Justice Emeka Nwite scheduled a hearing for 14 April, the same day the Mark faction intends to hold its national convention in the capital.
At a previous hearing the judge adjourned the matter indefinitely to await the Court of Appeal's ruling. The appellate court, on 12 March, instructed the parties to return to the trial court and preserve the pre‑existing situation pending a full hearing. On 1 April INEC removed Mark's and Aregbesola's names from its website as ADC national chairman and secretary.
In response, the Mark camp, through SAN Sulaiman Usman, filed a motion on 7 April seeking restoration of the names and an accelerated hearing. Both Mark and Aregbesola asked the court to dismiss the suit for lack of jurisdiction, with Mark's counsel asserting, "This honourable court lacks jurisdiction to entertain this suit," and adding, "The suit constitutes a gross abuse of court process." Aregbesola's counter‑affidavit, prepared by Anthonia Nwafor of M.E. Sheriff & Co, claimed Gombe had resigned and requested N50 million in costs. Chief Ralph Nwosu's lawyer, P.I. Oyewole, also urged dismissal, arguing Gombe had not exhausted internal dispute mechanisms.
The most striking element is the simultaneous scheduling of the court hearing and the ADC's national convention on 14 April, a move that suggests the Mark‑led faction is prepared to contest the legal challenge on the political stage as well as in court. By asking the court to restore their names on INEC's portal, the faction signals confidence that the dispute is more about legitimacy than procedural technicalities.
Underlying the courtroom drama is a power struggle within the ADC after former Senate President David Mark assumed control. Gombe's resignation as deputy national chairman, which he claims was communicated to INEC, fuels the contention that internal party rules have been bypassed. The appeal court's directive to maintain the status quo underscores the judiciary's reluctance to intervene in what the defendants label as internal party affairs.
