Judge to decide whether to withdraw or proceed with ADC leadership dispute on June 16

Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled a decision for June 16, 2026, to determine whether he will recuse himself from the lawsuit contesting the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark.

The ruling date was set on Monday, shortly after lawyers for the parties in the case filed their recusal applications and argued their positions.

Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy Chairman of the ADC who is claiming the party’s leadership, had approached the Federal High Court last year to challenge Mark’s position as national chairman.

The suit, opposed by the Mark‑led ADC, had reached the Supreme Court and was returned to the Federal High Court on April 30, 2026, for an expedited hearing.

Mark’s faction has opposed Justice Lifu’s involvement, arguing that the newly assigned judge should not hear the case expeditiously.

Previously, Justice Emeka Nwite of the same court had adjourned the case indefinitely on May 8, 2026, after receiving a letter from Gombe to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting a transfer of the case to another judge.

Justice Nwite also asked the parties to provide him with the Supreme Court judgment that ordered accelerated hearings for all pending applications before the trial court.

A few days later, the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026. After hearing the counsel present that day, he ordered an accelerated trial and set the next hearing for June 8, 2026, to address all pending applications.

During Monday’s proceedings, amid a heated exchange among the lawyers, Justice Lifu instructed the counsel to submit motions requesting his withdrawal from the case on the grounds of alleged bias against the Mark‑led ADC.

The respondents in the suit—ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu—are listed as first through fifth respondents under case number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Except for the second respondent and INEC, the other parties, including a party seeking to be joined (National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu), have asked Justice Lifu to recuse himself, transfer the matter, or stay proceedings due to alleged bias.

Ukandu, represented by Kalu Kalu Agu, cited the petition against the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu pending at the National Judicial Council (NJC), as well as another court case against the NJC, Chief Judge Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, which was filed last week Thursday in the Federal High Court, Abuja.

Gombe’s lawyer, Mr. Robert Emukpero, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the motions, arguing that there is no evidence of bias against the respondents.

After hearing all parties, Justice Lifu announced that he will decide on June 16, 2026, whether to withdraw from the case or continue to preside over it.