The Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday, September 15, stalled hearing in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the plaintiff failed to properly serve court papers on all defendants.
Justice Emeka Nwite ordered the plaintiff, former Deputy National Chairman Nafiu Bala Gombe, to personally serve the defendants before the next sitting. The matter was adjourned until September 30.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CD/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants. Mark is the party’s national chairman, while Aregbesola is national secretary.
In his motion filed September 2, Gombe asked the court for three orders, including:
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 4th defendant (INEC) from recognising the 2nd (Mark) and 3rd (Aregbesola) defendants as the national chairman and national secretary of the 1st defendant (ADC) pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
READ ALSO: ADC Challenges Court’s Authority in Case Against Mark’s Leadership
“An order of interim injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd defendants, their cohorts, agents and privies from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the 1st defendant pending the hearing of the motion on notice.
“An order restraining the 4th defendant/respondent from recognising and or dealing with the 2nd and 3rd defendants pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
Counsel to the ADC, Shaibu Aruwa, filed a preliminary objection, arguing the case was an internal party matter outside the jurisdiction of the court. He described it as filed in bad faith.
At the sitting, only the ADC and INEC were represented, while Mark, Aregbesola, and Nwosu were absent. Justice Nwite directed proper service and adjourned hearing to September 30.