Court Adjourns Hearing on Leadership Crisis in ADC to September 15

The leadership tussle rocking the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken another turn, as the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the Senator David Mark–led interim leadership to appear before it on Monday, September 15, to show cause why the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should not be barred from recognising it.

The order followed an ex-parte application filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Gombe, who is laying claim to the chairmanship seat. Justice Emeka Nwite, however, declined to grant the ex-parte request to immediately restrain Senator Mark and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as leaders of the party. Instead, he directed that the defendants be put on notice.

The defendants in the matter include the ADC, Senator Mark (Chairman), Aregbesola (National Secretary), INEC, and the immediate past National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Justice Nwite held:

“The plaintiff/applicant’s application dated and filed September 2, 2025, is refused. The defendants/respondents are hereby ordered to show cause why the application should not be granted. The case is adjourned to September 15, 2025.”

The crisis began in June when Senator Mark was appointed interim national chairman and Aregbesola interim national secretary, following the exit of Chief Ralph Nwosu. The change was part of a broader realignment within the party aimed at building a coalition strong enough to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

The coalition reportedly enjoys the support of several opposition heavyweights, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party’s Peter Obi, former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi, former Kaduna governor Nasir el-Rufai, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba and former Sokoto governor Aminu Tambuwal.

But the transition has faced stiff resistance. Dumebi Kachikwu, the ADC’s 2023 presidential candidate, described the leadership change as “illegal and divisive,” while Nafiu Bala, a former governorship candidate in Gombe, declared himself interim chairman and accused the new leadership of hijacking the party’s structures.

Three aggrieved members — Adeyemi Emmanuel, Ayodeji Tolu, and Haruna Ismaila — also approached the court, seeking to nullify the appointments of Senator Mark and Aregbesola on procedural grounds.

ADC, Kachikwu React

While Mr. Kachikwu welcomed the latest court order, describing it as a “sound and welcome development,” the party leadership insisted there was no order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from discharging their duties.

In a statement, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said:

“Contrary to misleading reports, the court did not issue any order removing Senator Mark and Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC. Having failed to stop INEC from acknowledging the leadership change, political jobbers are now resorting to fake news.”

The ADC urged the media and the public to be cautious of misinformation, alleging that such tactics were aimed at destabilising opposition parties ahead of 2027.

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