The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the partyโs leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter sine die after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, has triggered a leadership crisis within the ADC following the emergence of David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola in the partyโs leadership structure.
At the resumed hearing, counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, told the court that the Supreme Court had on April 30, 2026 dismissed the interlocutory appeal filed by Mark and set aside the Court of Appealโs order staying proceedings in the case.
He stated that the Supreme Court found the appeal lacked merit.
The lawyer also informed the court that the plaintiff had written to the Chief Judge on May 4, 2026, seeking reassignment of the case to another judge, and urged the court to await the administrative decision.
However, the defendants opposed the request, describing it as an attempt to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the appellate courts.
Counsel for the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, said the defence had not been formally informed of the application, calling it an ambush and a delay tactic.
Counsel for the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, also described the move as โforum shopping and judge shopping.
Justice Nwite ruled that the court could not take any action on the Chief Judgeโs letter without hearing all parties, as doing so would breach fair hearing rights.
The judge subsequently adjourned the case indefinitely, stating that the matter would await the Supreme Court judgment documents and any directive from the Chief Judge.
