The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for hearing in the suit filed by a former National Deputy Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Nafiu-Bala Gombe, against Senator David Mark and others over the leadership dispute in the party.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, is before Justice Emeka Nwite.
The matter was scheduled for a hearing after counsel to the plaintiff, Lukas Musa Haruna, SAN, filed an application asking the court to give the case an accelerated hearing date.
NewsWatch Nigeria understands that hearing notices had already been issued to parties in the suit as of Wednesday, May 6.
Justice Nwite fixed the date following a letter dated and filed on May 5 by Gombe’s legal team.
The letter was addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In the letter, the plaintiff’s counsel said the request became necessary after the Supreme Court dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by Mark on April 30, 2026.
The letter read, “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.
“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.”
Case Earlier Adjourned Indefinitely
Justice Nwite had on April 14 adjourned the case sine die, meaning indefinitely, following Gombe’s request that the matter be put on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on Mark’s appeal.
The court, however, declined an application by the Mark-led leadership of the ADC seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive suit.
The fresh hearing date now returns the leadership dispute to the Federal High Court after the Supreme Court’s decision on the interlocutory appeal.
Gombe had filed the suit seeking an order restraining Mark, who is listed as the embattled National Chairman of the ADC; the National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola; and others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.
In the suit, Gombe joined the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission and Ralph Nwosu as first to fifth defendants respectively.
Nwosu was the former National Chairman of the ADC who reportedly stepped down for the leadership of Mark.
Gombe is challenging the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as leaders of the party, arguing that the process breached the provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.
Mark, who is the second defendant in the suit, had earlier appealed against the March 12 judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The case is expected to continue before Justice Nwite on Friday, May 8, 2026.
