Court Delays ADC Leadership Crisis Case

Court Delays ADC Leadership Crisis Case

The leadership crisis rocking the African Democratic Congress took another turn on Friday after a Federal High Court in Abuja postponed proceedings in a suit challenging the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.

The case was filed by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting the emergence of Mark and former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola in the party’s leadership structure.

During the hearing, the plaintiff’s lawyer informed the court that the Supreme Court had already dismissed an earlier appeal filed against the case.

He also revealed that a request had been sent to the Chief Judge seeking the transfer of the matter to another judge, asking the court to wait for a decision on the application before continuing with the suit.

Lawyers representing the defendants opposed the request and accused the plaintiff of trying to delay the case.

They argued that the move amounted to an attempt to frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier approved by the appellate court and later backed by the Supreme Court.

Some of the defence lawyers also described the request as an improper attempt to influence the judicial process.

Justice Emeka Nwite later ruled that the court could not act on the transfer request without hearing all parties involved.

He said the matter would remain suspended until the Supreme Court judgment is properly filed and all parties are served with the application sent to the Chief Judge.

The judge then adjourned the suit indefinitely as the leadership battle within the ADC continues.