The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned judgment in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), involving former Senate President, David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola.

The suit seeks to restrain the duo from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.

The case, filed by a member of the House of Representatives from Kogi State, Leke Abejide, was initially slated for judgment on Monday. However, Justice Musa Suleiman Liman adjourned the ruling to April 14 due to official engagements.

A court registrar announced the adjournment to journalists and political stakeholders who had gathered early in anticipation of the verdict. Following the announcement, supporters from both the Abejide camp and the Mark-led faction vacated the courtroom.

The court had earlier fixed April 13 for judgment after counsel to all parties adopted their final written addresses.

Abejide, through his counsel, Ibrahim Idris (SAN), is challenging the legality of the transfer of the ADC leadership to Mark and Aregbesola.

In the originating summons marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, filed on February 15, 2026, the lawmaker listed the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as defendants.

Among other reliefs, Abejide is asking the court to nullify the alleged handover of the party’s leadership by Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola on July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, describing the process as “illegal, unlawful, null and void.”

He is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as party leaders, as well as an order barring INEC from recognising them in those capacities, arguing that their emergence contravenes provisions of the Electoral Act.

Defendants Seek Dismissal

In response, counsel to the defendants urged the court to dismiss the suit.

The ADC is represented by Shaibu Aruwa (SAN), while P.I. Oyewole appeared for Nwosu. Rilwan Okpanachi represented Mark, I.R. Abdullahi appeared for Aregbesola, and Anthony Onyeri represented INEC.

The defence argued that Abejide lacks the legal standing to institute the case. They further contended that the matter concerns the internal affairs of a political party, which is non-justiciable.

They also maintained that Mark’s leadership emerged from a National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025, not from the July 2 event referenced by the plaintiff, and urged the court to dismiss the suit with substantial costs, describing it as academic.