The federal high court in Abuja will, today, May 8, hear the suit filed by Nafiu Bala against David Mark’s leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Emeka Nwite, the presiding judge, scheduled hearing in the suit to Friday following an application letter written by the counsel of Bala.
In a letter dated May 5 and addressed to deputy chief registrar federal high court in Abuja, Bala’s counsel sought a hearing date for the suit following the judgment of the supreme court.
“We, Robert Emukpoeruo, 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,” the letter reads.
“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.”
On September 2, 2025, Bala, former vice-chairman of the ADC, approached a federal high court in Abuja (Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025), seeking to stop Mark and his faction from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
The motion ex parte was heard on September 4, 2025, and Nwite directed that the respondents, including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), be put on notice to show cause why the motion ex parte should not be granted.
Prior to the interim order, Bala had declared himself the national chairman of ADC at a press conference in Abuja.
He accused the Mark-led leadership of unlawfully taking over the ADC and breaching its constitution.
Bala denied that he resigned as the deputy national chairman of the ADC.
Dissatisfied with the interim ruling, Mark filed an appeal challenging the jurisdiction of the federal high court to continue to hear Bala’s suit.
However, on March 12, 2026, the court of appeal dismissed Mark’s case in its entirety, holding that it was incompetent and unmeritorious.
The appeal court directed parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum and refrain from taking any action capable of undermining the proceedings before the trial court.
The Mark-led faction approached the supreme court after the INEC withdrew its recognition following the judgment of the court of appeal.
On April 30, the supreme court directed Mark to return to the federal high court for the hearing and determination of issues arising from the leadership dispute within the ADC.
The apex court set aside the status quo order, describing it as “unnecessary, unwarranted and improper”.