By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will on June 16, 2026, decide whether to withdraw from the ongoing leadership tussle within the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
The judge fixed the date on Monday after listening to arguments from lawyers representing parties in the suit, following recusal applications filed by the faction loyal to former Senate President David Mark.
The leadership crisis began when a former Deputy Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, approached the court challenging Mark’s position as the national chairman of the party. The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, has already travelled to the Supreme Court and was returned to the Federal High Court on April 30, 2026, for accelerated hearing.
However, the Mark-led ADC is opposing the hearing of the suit by Justice Lifu, who was newly assigned to handle the matter expeditiously. The respondents in the suit include the ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Chief Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th respondents respectively.
Recall that Justice Emeka Nwite had on May 8, 2026, adjourned the matter indefinitely after Gombe wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting a transfer of the case to another judge. Days later, the case was reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026, and ordered accelerated trial.
When the matter came up on Monday, after a heated exchange during the identification of processes, Justice Lifu directed counsel to adopt their motions seeking his withdrawal over allegations of bias.
Apart from the second respondent and INEC, all other parties—including an applicant seeking joinder, the National Welfare Secretary of ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu—asked Justice Lifu to recuse himself, transfer the matter, or stay proceedings.
Ukandu’s lawyer, Kalu Kalu Agu, cited a petition against the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC), as well as another court case against the NJC, Tsoho, and Lifu filed last Thursday.
However, Gombe’s lawyer, Mr Robert Emukpero, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the motions, arguing there was no evidence of bias against the respondents.
After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu announced that ruling would be delivered on June 16, 2026.
