(UPDATED) ADC crisis: Court orders Mark to justify leadership recognition  Sept. 15

The Federal High Court in Abuja has directed the Senator David Mark-led interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to appear before it on September 15 and explain why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not be stopped from recognising them.

Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order while ruling on an application filed by former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the party’s chairmanship seat.

Gombe, in a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, had sought an interim injunction restraining the Mark-led group from presenting themselves as party leaders. He specifically prayed the court for: “An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th defendant from recognizing the 2nd and 3rd defendants as the National Chairman and National Secretary, their agents and privies of the 1st defendant/respondent herein, pending the hearing of the motion on notice hereby filed in this matter.”

The suit lists the ADC, Senator Mark, former Osun governor Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and immediate past National Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

However, in his September 4 ruling, Justice Nwite declined the ex-parte application and instead ordered the plaintiff to serve the defendants with the court processes.

 “It is hereby ordered as follows: That the Plaintiff/Applicant’s application dated and filed 2/9/2025, is refused. That an order of this honourable court is hereby made directing the Plaintiff/Applicant to put the Defendants on notice. That the Defendants/Respondents are hereby ordered by this honourable court to show cause why the application should not be granted. The case is hereby adjourned to 15th day of September, 2025, for the Respondents to show cause,” the judge ruled in an order signed by the court’s Registrar, Kasope Kafayat Bola.

The legal tussle comes as INEC recently updated its records to reflect the Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC). But three ADC members – Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Victor Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila – have also filed another suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1328, asking the court to remove the interim leadership.

In that case, Senator Mark, Aregbesola (Interim National Secretary), and former Sports Minister Bolaji Abdullahi (Interim National Publicity Secretary) were joined as defendants alongside the ADC, INEC, and Nwosu.

The plaintiffs are challenging the legitimacy of the appointments, asking the court to determine whether the party’s constitution allows for interim leadership and whether those appointed were even qualified or properly registered members. They further argued that only a National Convention or the National Executive Committee could lawfully dissolve or replace the existing leadership.

The crisis follows a political realignment earlier this year when former ADC Chairman Nwosu announced the collapse of party structures to pave the way for a coalition led by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, aimed at contesting President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027.