Fresh uncertainty has engulfed the opposition African Democratic Congress ahead of the 2027 general elections after a Federal High Court in Abuja indefinitely adjourned a leadership dispute involving the party’s Senator David Mark-led faction.
The ruling, delivered on Friday by Justice Emeka Nwite, followed a request by party chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe seeking the transfer of the case to another judge, further deepening tensions within the party.
The suit challenges the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee and seeks to restrain the faction from presenting itself as the authentic leadership of the ADC pending the determination of the matter.
Justice Nwite adjourned the case sine die pending the submission of the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment connected to the matter, as well as a decision by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on the plaintiff’s request for reassignment of the case.
The development sparked outrage within the Mark-led camp, which accused Gombe and his supporters of attempting to manipulate the judicial process through what party officials described as “forum shopping” and “judicial interference.”
Counsel to the defendants argued before the court that the plaintiff’s move amounted to an attempt to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
Lawyers representing the defendants maintained that litigants had no authority to choose judges to hear their cases and warned that such actions could undermine confidence in the judiciary.
During proceedings, counsel for the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, condemned the move as “judge shopping,” insisting that the Supreme Court had previously commended Justice Nwite’s handling of the case.
Justice Nwite, however, held that the court could not take action on the transfer request without hearing all parties involved, noting that any unilateral decision would violate the defendants’ right to fair hearing.
“This matter is best adjourned sine die to afford the parties file the Certified True Copy of the judgment of the Supreme Court and await further directives from the Chief Judge,” the judge ruled.
The crisis stems from Gombe’s suit seeking to stop the David Mark leadership from acting on behalf of the party and to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the faction.
Reacting to the latest court development, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi accused unnamed political actors of attempting to influence judicial proceedings for political purposes.
According to the party, the request to reassign the case confirmed fears that external forces were working behind the scenes to secure a favourable judicial outcome ahead of the 2027 elections.
The statement described the development as a dangerous attempt to turn the judiciary into “a shopping mall where judges are selected for political convenience.”
Despite the legal turmoil, the ADC’s presidential race appears to be gathering momentum, with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, and economist Mohammed Hayatu-Deen all obtaining presidential nomination forms from the party.
Amaechi’s nomination form was reportedly obtained by supporters under the platform known as CRA, while Hayatu-Deen officially declared his intention to contest, promising to focus on economic recovery and national security if elected.
Meanwhile, the party’s Anambra State chapter reaffirmed loyalty to the David Mark-led leadership despite the reported exit of former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi from the ADC coalition arrangement.
However, fresh divisions also emerged in Jigawa State, where a factional congress produced a new executive committee and announced the suspension and expulsion of several prominent party members, including Senator Sabo Muhammad Nakudu.
The latest disputes have intensified concerns about the stability of the ADC as opposition realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election continue to reshape Nigeria’s political landscape.
