Meanwhile, a Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned a suit challenging the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President, David Mark.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter after the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala Gombe, informed the court that an application had been submitted to the Chief Judge requesting that the case be reassigned to another judge.
The suit also involves former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, whose emergence in the ADC leadership structure has reportedly sparked internal tensions within the party.
During proceedings, counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, informed the court that the Supreme Court had dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark on April 30, 2026, for lacking merit.
Haruna also disclosed that the plaintiff had written to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court on May 4, requesting that the matter be transferred to another judge.
However, lawyers representing the defendants opposed the request, accusing the plaintiff of attempting to delay proceedings and frustrate the accelerated hearing earlier ordered by the Court of Appeal and upheld by the Supreme Court.
Counsel to the first defendant, Realwan Okpanachi, argued that the defence had not been officially served with the application, describing the move as an ambush.
Similarly, counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, described the application as “forum shopping and judge shopping,” warning against what he called a dangerous judicial trend.
In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not act on the letter without hearing from all parties involved, as doing so would breach the defendants’ right to fair hearing.
He further stated that since the letter was addressed to the Chief Judge, the trial court lacked the authority to make pronouncements on it.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter indefinitely to allow parties file the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and await further directives from the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court.