By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. | adeyemi@ddnewsonline.com
Editor, DDNews |
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has declined to recuse himself from the suit seeking to sack the Senator David Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The judge, who on Monday delivered a controversial judgment ordering the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties, ruled on Tuesday that there was no cogent reason for him to withdraw from the case.
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Justice Lifu has now fixed June 23, 2026, for the accelerated hearing of the suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC. Suit Seeks to Nullify Mark-led Executive.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, Gombe is challenging the legality of the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the ADC. He contends that following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, he is qualified to assume leadership of the party.
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The plaintiff is praying the court to Nullify all actions taken by the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee.
Restrain Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the ADC respectively.
Declare that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
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Defendants in the suit include the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
All defendants except INEC demanded that Justice Lifu recuse himself and return the case file to the Chief Judge for reassignment, citing alleged bias. The National Welfare Secretary of the party, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who joined the suit as an interested party, also demanded the judge’s withdrawal.
Ukandu informed the court that the party had already petitioned both Justice Lifu and the Chief Judge, and that both had been sued over their handling of ADC-related matters.
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However, Justice Lifu dismissed the recusal applications. He went further by imposing a N500,000 fine each on Senator David Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Robert Emukpero, SAN, described the recusal motions as lacking in merit and a delay tactic. He argued that the defendants failed to provide any evidence of bias against the judge.
The case was previously before Justice Emeka Nwite, who stepped down after the plaintiff petitioned the Chief Judge, citing loss of confidence in his ability to handle the matter objectively.
It was reassigned to Justice Lifu, whose recusal has now also been rejected by the court.
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The crisis stems from a long-running leadership dispute within the ADC, which has now spilled into the courts with far-reaching implications for the party’s registration and participation in future elections.
DDNews will monitor further developments as the matter heads for accelerated hearing on June 23.
DDNewsOnline – Lagos
By Ogungbayi Adeyemi S. (Beedee)
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