Court adjourns ADC leadership challenge to September 28

A Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a legal challenge to the interim leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) to September 28, 2026. The suit, filed by party member Nafiu Bala Gombe, seeks to restrain former Senate President David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola from acting as leaders of the opposition party. The case was scheduled for hearing on Monday, September 14, but could not proceed because the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, did not sit. The matter was subsequently rescheduled for September 28, when pending applications are expected to be heard. Gombe is challenging the legitimacy of the interim National Working Committee (NWC) led by Mark and Aregbesola. The plaintiff alleges their emergence violated provisions of the ADC's constitution and the Electoral Act. The suit lists the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC Chairman Ralph Nwosu as defendants. The legal dispute follows the repositioning of the ADC ahead of the 2027 general elections. Nwosu stepped down as National Chairman to allow for the new leadership structure.