A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned indefinitely a suit seeking the removal of Senator David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The adjournment on Thursday followed a last-minute application by plaintiff Nafiu Gombe requesting the transfer of the case to another judge, just days after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the matter to proceed.
Gombe is challenging the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary, alleging their positions violate the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
When the case came up before Justice Emeka Nwite, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, informed the court of a formal application sent to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on May 4, 2026, seeking reassignment of the suit.
Haruna urged the court to suspend proceedings pending the Chief Judge’s decision on the transfer request.
Defence counsel strongly opposed the move, accusing the plaintiff of deliberate delay tactics and “forum shopping.”
Counsel to the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, described the application as “an ambush” designed to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Sulaiman Usman, counsel to Senator David Mark, said the plaintiff was engaging in forum shopping to secure a more favourable judge.
Another defence lawyer, P.I. Oyewole, warned that allowing such private correspondence to stall proceedings could encourage “judicial rascality.”
In his ruling, Justice Nwite declined to entertain the transfer request, stating that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter since it was addressed to the Chief Judge.
The judge added that any decision without hearing from all parties would breach the defendants’ right to fair hearing.
He therefore adjourned the case sine die (indefinitely) to allow parties file the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment delivered on April 30, ensure proper service of the transfer application on all defendants, and await directives from the Chief Judge.
