ADC Leadership Tussle Deepens: Court Battles, Protests Rock Party as Factions Clash

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 16, 2026, to rule on applications seeking his recusal from the contentious suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark. This decision came on Monday, June 8, 2026, after lawyers representing various parties adopted and argued their recusal motions, highlighting a deepening crisis within the opposition party.

The calls for Justice Lifu to step aside intensified with a Motion on Notice filed on June 5 by Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC’s National Welfare Secretary. Ukandu seeks an order directing Justice Lifu to withdraw from further proceedings in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, which pits Nafiu Bala Gombe against the ADC and four other defendants. The basis for this request includes a pending petition filed by Ukandu before the National Judicial Council (NJC) against Justice Lifu and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, alleging corruption, disobedience to Supreme Court orders, and manifest bias. Additionally, Ukandu has instituted a separate suit, FHC/ABJ/CS/1165/2026, against the NJC, Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, further complicating the judicial landscape.

In the alternative, Ukandu’s application seeks an order transferring the case file back to the Chief Judge for reassignment or, failing that, a stay of proceedings until both his petition and related suit are determined. These moves follow closely on the heels of a similar application filed about 72 hours prior by ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who also urged Justice Lifu to recuse himself due to a lack of confidence in his impartiality. Aregbesola's counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, emphasized the constitutional guarantee of a fair hearing before an independent and impartial tribunal, accusing Justice Lifu of demonstrating bias in a separate matter involving the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators and INEC, where the ADC is a defendant.

The core of the leadership dispute stems from a suit filed by ADC National Deputy Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, last year, seeking to restrain the David Mark-led leadership from parading themselves as party officers and to prevent the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing them. Initially, Justice Emeka Nwite directed the defendants to show cause. However, rather than responding, the defendants appealed to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, challenging the trial court's jurisdiction. The appellate court dismissed the appeal for lacking merit, ordering an accelerated hearing and directing all parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. This 'status quo ante bellum' order was later set aside by the Supreme Court in April 2026, which, in a unanimous judgment, returned the matter to the Federal High Court for an expeditious hearing. INEC had acted on this Supreme Court decision, de-recognizing the David Mark leadership.

The case's trajectory back at the trial court was not smooth. On May 8, 2026, Justice Nwite had adjourned proceedings indefinitely, awaiting the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and a decision from the Chief Judge regarding Gombe’s request for a case transfer. Subsequently, due to the NJC’s recommendation for Justice Nwite’s elevation to the Court of Appeal, the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu. Justice Lifu assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026, and after an initial hearing, ordered an accelerated trial, adjourning to June 8, 2026, for hearing in all pending applications, including Ukandu’s bid to be joined as a party.

During the Monday, June 8, 2026, proceedings, following heated arguments among lawyers identifying their processes, Justice Lifu directed counsel to adopt their motions seeking his withdrawal over alleged bias against the Mark-led ADC faction. The 1st to 5th respondents in the suit (ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, INEC, and Chief Ralph Nwosu) witnessed most parties, including Ukandu (seeking to be joined), advocating for Justice Lifu's recusal, transfer of the matter, or a stay of proceedings. Ukandu, represented by Kalu Kalu Agu, further buttressed his arguments by citing the aforementioned petitions and lawsuits against the judicial officers.

However, Gombe’s lawyer, Mr. Robert Emukpero, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the recusal motions, arguing that there was no substantive evidence of bias against the respondents. Allegations of bias against Justice Lifu include his purported relationship with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, who, alongside the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is accused of attempting to weaken opposition parties ahead of the 2027 general elections. Ukandu also cited alleged disregard for judicial precedents by the judge, claiming that the handling of the matter had undermined confidence in the judicial process.

Amidst these legal maneuvers, members of the David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC staged a protest at the Federal High Court in Abuja, calling on the judiciary not to allow itself to be used to stifle opposition parties in Nigeria. They view Bala's lawsuit as a calculated ploy to distract and destabilize the party. All eyes are now on June 16, 2026, when Justice Lifu is slated to deliver his ruling on whether he will continue to preside over the intricate ADC leadership battle or step aside.