… As Court Hears Nafiu-Bala Gombe’s Suit Against ADC Chairman, Others on Friday
The national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has held a “crucial meeting” with representatives of the party’s former federal lawmakers following the recent defections that hit the party at the national assembly.
On Tuesday, 17 members of the house of representatives defected from the party to the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC).
Benjamin Kalu, deputy speaker of the house, read the defection notices during plenary.
The lawmakers, who represent 17 constituencies across the country, are Yusuf Datti (Kura/Madobi/Garun Mallam, Kano), Harris Okonkwo (Idemili north/Idemili douth, Anambra), Sani Adamu (Minjibir/Ungogo, Kano), Thaddeus Attah (Eti-Osa, Lagos), George Ozodinobi, deputy minority whip (Njikoka/Anaocha/Dunukofia, Anambra), Lilian Obiageli (Awka north/Awka south, Anambra), and Oluwaseyi Sowunmi (Ojo, Lagos).
The legislators also include Peter Anekwe (Anambra east/west, Anambra), Zakari Mukhtari (Tarauni, Kano), George Olawande (Amuwo Odofin, Lagos), Murphy Omoruyi (Egor/Ikpoba Okha, Edo), Umezuruike Manuchim (Port Harcourt I, Rivers), Emeka Idu (Onitsha north/south, Anambra), Jese Onuakalusi (Oshodi-Isolo, Lagos), Ifeanyi Uzokwe (Nnewi north/south/Ekwusigo, Anambra), Afam Ogene (Ogbaru, Anambra), and Kamilu Ado (Wudil/Garko, Kano).
Leke Abejide, lawmaker representing Yagba federal constituency of Kogi, also moved from the ADC to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The lawmakers attributed their defections to leadership and legal crises in their former party.
In a post via X, Kola Ologbondiyan, Mark’s technical adviser on strategic communication, said the party’s national chairman met with representatives of the federal legislators at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
“The representatives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) former Federal Lawmakers in a crucial meeting with the party’s National Chairman, Senator David Mark, at the party’s National Secretariat in Abuja, Wednesday,” he wrote.
Ologbondiyan, however, did not give details of the meeting, while Bolaji Abdullahi, the party’s spokesperson, is yet to issue a formal statement.
Meanwhile, the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for the hearing in the suit filed by Mr Nafiu-Bala Gombe against Sen. David Mark and others over the leadership dispute in the African Democratic Party (ADC).
It was gathered yesterday that hearing notices had been issued to parties in the suit before trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite.
Justice Nwite fixed the date following an application letter for a hearing date in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/1819/2025, by counsel to the plaintiff (Gombe), Luka Haruna, SAN, and sighted by our teporter.
The letter, dated and filed on May 5, was addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar Federal High Court in Abuja.
The letter reads: “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 inteslocutory 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 heariag 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.”
Justice Nwite had, on April 14, adjourned the case since die (indefinitely) following Gombe’s request to adjourn the case indefinitely to await the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Mark.
The judge, who adjourned the case indefinitely, declined to grant an application by Mark-led leadership of the ADC, seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive case.
Gombe, the former National Deputy Chairman of ADC, had filed the suit seeking an order restraining Mark, the embattled National Chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and others from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.
Mark, the 2nd defendant in the suit filed by Gombe at FHC, had appealed against the March 12 judgment of the Appeal Court.
Gombe, in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, at the FHC had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for David Mark leadership of the party.
Gombe had argued that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as party’s leaders breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.