By Suleiman Anyalewechi
An Abuja Federal High Court has scheduled Friday, May 8, 2026, for hearing in the motion on notice filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe challenging the Senator David Mark-led National Executive Committee, NEC, of the opposition Coalition platform the African Democratic Congress ADC.
The Supreme Court had on April 30, while ruling on an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark, ordered parties to return to the trial Court for the continuation of proceedings in the suit filed by Bala-Gombe in 2025.
The Supreme Court, while nullifying the Court of Appeal’s earlier ruling which ordered parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum, however, affirmed the Appallate Court’s order for parties to return to the trial Court for the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The hearing notices were said to have been served on all parties in the motion on notice before Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite on Wednesday, May, 6, 2026.
The service of the notices followed an application letter filed by Luka Haruna SAN, Counsel to the plaintiff (Bala-Gombe) dated May 5 ,and addressed to the Deputy Registrar, Federal High Court Abuja.
We, Robert Emukposeruo SAN, Lukman O. Fagbemi SAN, and Lukas Musa Haruna, SAN, still representing Hon Nafiu Bala Gombe, the plaintiff in the above matter pending before His Lordship, Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite of Court No 8.
“Following the dismissal of the interlocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on April 30,2026, we hereby apply for a date for the accelerated hearing of this matter in accordance with the judgment of the court of Appeal.
“Find enclosed herewith, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered for the accelerated hearing of this case.
“We shall be most grateful if you bring this application to the notice of His Lordship for his prompt action”, the letter reads.
In his originating summons, Bala-Gombe is praying the court for an order restraining Mark, and other members of his ADC National Executive Committee NEC from parading themselves in those capacity.
Gombe had argued that the emergence of Senator Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively were in complete violation of the constitution of the ADC ,as a political partynumber.
He, therefore, sought an order declaring him as the rightful National Chairman of the ADC after the resignation of the former Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.
The ADC, Nwosu, Rauf Aregbesola the National Secretary, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are listed as respondents in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.
The leadership case was one of the reasons cited by Peter Obi for his decision to exit the ADC.
Obi, the Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, announced his resignation from the ADC on Sunday May 3, 2026.
He has since joined forces with the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC, alongside the leader of the Kwankwasiyya Movement, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.
There are growing fears that the plethora of court cases around the ADC, may severe disrupt its activities ahead of the 2027 polls.
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