The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned judgment in a suit filed by Leke Abejide, seeking to restrain David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as national chairman and national secretary of the African Democratic Congress.
The case, scheduled for judgment on Monday before Musa Liman, was postponed due to the judge’s engagement in another official assignment. A new date of April 14 has now been fixed for the ruling.
Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives under the ADC platform, filed the suit challenging the legitimacy of the party’s leadership transition. In his originating summons, he is asking the court to nullify the handover of leadership by former chairman Ralph Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola, which he described as unlawful.
The lawmaker is also seeking a perpetual injunction to prevent both men from acting as party leaders, as well as an order restraining the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising them in those roles.
Abejide argued that the leadership ce, which reportedly took place in July 2025, did not comply with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
However, the defendants, including the ADC, Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola, have urged the court to dismiss the case. They contend that Abejide lacks the legal standing to institute the suit and argue that the matter concerns internal party affairs, which they say are not subject to judicial intervention.
They further maintained that the leadership of Mark emerged from a valid National Executive Committee meeting held later in July 2025, contradicting Abejide’s claims about the process.
Counsel representing INEC also asked the court to dismiss the suit, backing the position that the case lacks merit.
The outcome of the judgment is expected to have significant implications for the leadership structure of the ADC and its internal ility ahead of future political activities.
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