ABUJA — The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned a suit challenging the legitimacy of former Senate President David Mark’s leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

The case, filed by an aggrieved ADC member, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, was scheduled for hearing on Monday, September 14, 2026, but proceedings could not go ahead as the presiding judge, Justice Peter Lifu, did not sit.

The court subsequently adjourned the matter to September 28, 2026, when pending applications in the suit are expected to be considered.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, challenges the process through which Mark emerged as the ADC National Chairman, alongside former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other members of the party’s interim National Working Committee.

Gombe is asking the court to restrain Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the interim leadership from presenting themselves as the legitimate leaders of the ADC.

He contends that the process that produced the current leadership allegedly contravened provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Named as defendants in the suit are the ADC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

The case had earlier been slated for hearing on pending applications after the court dismissed separate applications by the ADC and Aregbesola seeking the recusal of Justice Lifu over allegations of bias.

Justice Lifu reportedly dismissed the applications for lacking merit and awarded ₦1 million in costs against each of the ADC and Aregbesola in favour of Gombe.

The latest adjournment means the legal battle over the leadership of the ADC will continue as the party navigates its internal affairs and preparations ahead of the 2027 general elections.