Judge to decide whether to withdraw or proceed with ADC leadership tussle June 16

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed June 16, 2026, to decide whether to recuse himself from the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, under David Mark.

Justice Lifu fixed the date on Monday for ruling shortly after the recusal applications were adopted and argued by lawyers representing parties in the suit.

A former Deputy Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is laying claim to the leadership of the party, had last year approached the Federal High Court to challenge Mark position as the national chairman of the party.

The suit which is being opposed by the Mark-led ADC had gone up to the Supreme Court and returned to the Federal High Court on April 30, 2026, for accelerated hearing.

However, the Mark-led ADC is opposed to the hearing of the suit by Justice Peter Lifu, who was newly assigned to hear and determine the suit expeditiously.

It will be recalled that Justice Emeka Nwite, also of the Federal High Court, had on May 8, 2026, shortly after the matter came back from the apex court, adjourned it indefinitely, following a letter by Nafiu Gombe to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, seeking transfer of the case to another judge.

Besides, Justice Nwite also requested parties to furnish him with the judgment of the apex court which had ordered accelerated hearing of all pending applications before the trial court.

However, few days later the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026, and after listening to all counsel present at the day’s proceedings, ordered accelerated trial and adjourned to June 8, 2026, for hearing in all pending applications.

When the matter came up on Monday, following a heated argument while lawyers were identifying their individual processes, Justice Lifu ordered counsel to adopt their motions seeking his withdrawal from further trial of the matter over alleged bias against the Mark-led ADC.

The ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Chief Ralph Nwosu are 1st to 5th respondents in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Except for the second respondent and INEC, the others including a party seeking to be joined (National Welfare Secretary, ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu) all asked Justice Lifu to recuse himself, transfer the matter, or stay proceedings over alleged bias against them.

Ukandu, who was represented by Kalu Kalu Agu, on his part cited the petition against the CJ and Lifu, pending at the National Judicial Council, NJC, as well as another court case against the NJC, Tsoho and Lifu, also pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja, filed last week Thursday.

However, Gombe’s lawyer, Mr Robert Emukpero, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the motions on grounds that there is no evidence of bias against the respondents.

After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu announced that he will on June 16, 2026, rule on whether he would withdraw from the matter or continue with it.

Judge to decide whether to withdraw or proceed with ADC leadership tussle June 16