ADC

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign council has challenged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to explain why the N10 billion approved by President Bola Tinubu for Ebola preparedness in June has reportedly remained unused.

In a statement issued on Friday, Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication for the ADC presidential campaign council, accused the ruling party of avoiding questions about the release and management of the emergency fund.

The statement followed comments by Dele Alake, spokesperson for the APC presidential campaign council, who reportedly said the money had not been spent because the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and other agencies had relied on existing resources.

Reacting, Shaibu criticised the APC’s response and demanded documentary evidence showing whether the funds had been released and how they were being managed.

“The APC have made a remarkable discovery: ‘Bola’ sounds like ‘Ebola’. We had not noticed. They found the rhyme, wrote a lengthy press statement about it and somehow still could not tell Nigerians where the ₦10 billion ordered released for Ebola preparedness is,” the statement reads.

“Atiku Abubakar asked for the money trail and an account of the emergency response. The party in power came back with a pronunciation lesson.”

Shaibu asked the Federal Government to clarify whether the money had been disbursed and, if so, identify the account holding it, the officials responsible for managing it and the reasons it had not been spent.

“Was the money released or was it not? If it was released, where is it held, who controls it, and why has it not been used for the preparedness President Tinubu announced in June?” he stated.

“If it was never released, why was an order for its immediate release announced in June? Publish the release documents, the account records and the Task Force’s expenditure reports. Insulting Atiku Abubakar will not account for one naira.”

The ADC spokesperson also questioned the government’s response to the confirmed Ebola case in Abuja, demanding a detailed timeline showing when the infection was first suspected, when health authorities received an alert and when testing and contact tracing began.

Citing the World Health Organization’s account, Shaibu said the patient developed symptoms on October 7, sought treatment at a private health facility on October 11 and received laboratory confirmation on October 20.

“The APC says an infected person cannot transmit Ebola before symptoms appear. That is true. It does not answer what happened after symptoms appeared,” he said.

He also called on the government to identify the agency that raised the surveillance alert and explain the actions taken after the warning.

“The APC claims surveillance ‘tipped off’ the government. Then publish the timeline. Name the agency that raised the alert, give the date and explain the action taken,” he said.

Shaibu stressed the need to provide healthcare workers involved in treatment and contact tracing with adequate protection, equipment and resources.

“Health workers treating the patient and tracing contacts deserve protection, equipment and every resource needed to act quickly. Questioning the government’s preparedness is no insult to them.”

He further expressed concern that public health measures could be used to restrict political campaigns or voting during the election period. He urged the Tinubu administration to make public any proposed restrictions, the medical justification for them and the recommendations of health authorities.

“Public health guidance must protect people. It must never become a political tool,” he added.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, David Mark, has said the party will follow electoral rules but will resist any attempt to manipulate the 2027 general elections or prevent it from participating fairly.

Mark spoke on Wednesday in Abuja when he received a delegation from the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development at the ADC national headquarters.

The delegation, led by the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, was at the party’s secretariat as part of consultations with political parties and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

Mark said the ADC was committed to observing the rules governing the elections as well as its internal code of conduct.

“We hold ourselves to the highest standards of good conduct as a political party. We will play by the rules. But we will not accept rigging or allow ourselves to be rigged out.

“We are committed to playing politics in a manner that promotes public confidence in democracy,” he said.

The ADC chairman said the party would also abide by the guidelines issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission and the provisions of its Orange Book, which outlines the party’s code of conduct and governance principles.

Mark had previously cautioned against the use of state institutions to influence the 2027 electoral process, stressing the importance of protecting the credibility of the elections.

Speaking during the visit, Ariwoola said the Savannah Centre was seeking commitments from political parties and their candidates towards peaceful, free, fair and credible elections.

He urged the ADC leadership to ensure that its candidates and supporters adhered to INEC regulations and avoided actions that could contribute to political violence.

The engagement is part of the ongoing consultations by the centre’s Council of the Wise with political actors and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.

The council, chaired by Ariwoola, was reconstituted in June with a mandate to promote peaceful and credible elections while engaging political parties, government institutions and other key stakeholders.

Its engagements have included meetings with political candidates and other political actors, with emphasis on compliance with electoral rules, issue-based campaigns and efforts to prevent violence and hate speech.

The delegation to the ADC included members of the Council of the Wise, among them Professors Abdullahi Shehu and Azeez Dankano, Executive Director of the Centre, Ambassador Sani Bala, Tunji Lardner and Ambassador Godswill Ighali.

The centre had earlier disclosed plans for the council to engage President Bola Tinubu, INEC leadership, political parties, security agencies, traditional and religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders before the 2027 elections.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Buba Galadima, a chieftain of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), has claimed that “34 and a half” state governors are supporting President Bola Tinubu’s bid for another term in office.

Galadima made the claim at the inauguration of the NDC’s national reconciliation committee, where he discussed the political alignments ahead of the 2027 general election.

According to him, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has kept his distance from both Tinubu’s political camp and the opposition coalition.

He, however, described Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed as being undecided over which side to support.

Galadima said Mohammed had attended a meeting with NDC stakeholders but later reconsidered his position after receiving advice against joining a political party that has a strong presidential candidate.

“There are thirty-four and a half governors. The one who is not with him, visibly shown, is Seyi Makinde. The half is Bala Mohammed,” Galadima said.

He explained why he classified the Bauchi governor as “half” among the governors he said were not firmly aligned with Tinubu.

“Mohammed is half, because Bala Mohammed met with us after the wee hours of the night, 3:00 a.m. We parted; we were both at the NDC together. Just for him in the morning to call that he has rescinded his decision, that he was advised not to go into any party with a strong presidential candidate,” Galadima said.

The NDC chieftain said Mohammed’s current political position remained uncertain, as he could still choose to work with either the opposition coalition or the ruling party.

“So, it means Bala Mohammed is on the fence. He may work with us; he may work with them. That’s why he’s half, as far as I’m concerned.

Galadima also contrasted the resources available to political parties in power with those available to opposition groups when negotiating with politicians.

“So if you are in power, you have the authority to say, look, we are only fielding this man; all of you step down. Or they can compensate you. We have nothing to compensate anybody, except we reason, except patriotism, that we need to salvage this country.”

The comments come as political parties and opposition groups intensify consultations ahead of the 2027 elections, with the question of possible alliances among governors expected to remain a major issue.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to give equal attention to all victims of insecurity across Nigeria. The opposition party asked the President to provide updates on efforts to rescue 176 residents of Woro community in Kaiama Local Government Area of Kwara State, who have remained in captivity since they were abducted on February 3, 2026.

In a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said the President’s celebration of the recent rescue of abductees in Oyo State had raised concerns about the fate of people still being held by kidnappers and insurgents in Kaiama, Borno and other parts of the country.

The ADC also pointed to the recent abduction of 40 residents from communities in Zamfara State, fresh deadly attacks in Benue State, and the kidnapping of Kebbi State High Court judge, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, as signs that insecurity remains a major challenge despite repeated assurances from the Federal Government.

According to the party, the administration must show through its actions that every Nigerian life is valued equally.

“The African Democratic Congress (ADC) is concerned by what is becoming an unmistakable pattern in the Tinubu administration’s response to insecurity: some victims receive swift presidential attention, while others are left to languish in silence.



“Every successful rescue of abducted Nigerians deserves to be celebrated. But the President must ensure that his actions do not create the impression that the value of a Nigerian life depends on where the victim comes from or whether the tragedy attracts national headlines. Leadership demands equal compassion for every citizen, because no country can build national unity on the basis of selective empathy and selective attention.”



The statement recalled that residents of Kaiama Local Government Area staged a peaceful protest on July 24 over the continued captivity of the 176 abductees from Woro community. It noted that more than 170 days after the incident, families were still waiting for answers from the government.

The ADC also expressed concern over the worsening security situation in other parts of the country.

“The tragedy is not standing still; it is spreading. In Zamfara State, no fewer than 40 residents from 11 communities in Mayanchi District of Maru Local Government Area were recently abducted by bandits, most of them women and children, forcing terrified families to flee their homes.



“On Friday, July 24, fresh attacks again claimed lives in Benue’s Sankera axis. And in the early hours of Sunday, July 26, 2026, suspected bandits abducted a Judge of the Kebbi State High Court, Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza, from his residence. Meanwhile, communities in Borno State continue to endure insurgent attacks and mass displacement. These are not isolated incidents. They are reminders that insecurity remains a daily reality for millions of Nigerians.”



Abdullahi said Nigerians deserved to know the progress made in securing the release of abductees still in captivity across the country.

“What progress has been made in securing the release of the 176 abductees from Kaiama? What is being done to rescue the women and children taken in Zamfara? What efforts are underway to secure the release of Justice Bunza? What updates are available on victims in Borno and other affected communities? The President owes Nigerians more than broad assurances. He owes them regular updates, timelines and evidence that no Nigerian community has been abandoned.”



The party also questioned the effectiveness of repeated presidential assurances on security.

“On Thursday, July 23, 2026, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu again assured Nigerians that insecurity in the North would soon come to an end. We sincerely hope that promise becomes reality. But hope cannot survive indefinitely on declarations alone. There comes a point when repeated assurances, unaccompanied by visible results, cease to reassure. They simply become another headline in a long cycle of official optimism and public disappointment.



“That is why many Nigerians no longer receive presidential statements on insecurity with the confidence they once did. The administration has become remarkably consistent in making reassuring pronouncements but far less convincing in delivering outcomes. On one of the defining challenges of this government, the President is increasingly seen as a professional statement-maker, while communities continue to bury their dead, search for the missing and wait for rescues that never seem to come.”



The ADC called on President Tinubu to prove, “through action rather than rhetoric”, that every Nigerian deserves equal protection and attention.

“The people abducted in Woro on February 3 matter.



“The women and children abducted in Mayanchi, Zamfara matter. The families living under siege in Borno matter. The victims of fresh attacks in Benue matter. Justice Faruku Hassan Bunza matters. They deserve the same urgency, the same empathy and the same presidential attention that every rescued Nigerian rightly receives. Leadership is not measured by how quickly government celebrates a rescue; it is measured by whether no Nigerian is left behind or forgotten.”

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has maintained that the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise will end today, July 26, despite calls from opposition political parties and civil society organisations (CSOs) for an extension to allow more eligible Nigerians to register ahead of the 2027 general elections.

In a notice posted on its X account on Saturday, the commission said registration centres across the country would operate from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the final day of the exercise.

“Your future won’t wait. Neither should you. The Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise ends Sunday, 26 July 2026,” the commission stated.

INEC also advised prospective voters to complete their registration through its online CVR portal or visit designated registration centres and INEC offices nationwide for physical assistance.

The commission explained that the Electoral Act requires it to suspend voter registration, voter register updates and revisions 90 days before an election. The measure allows time for data cleaning, printing of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) and other election preparations.

INEC National Commissioner Mohammed Haruna said there would be no extension beyond the deadline because the commission must begin processing the data collected.

“By midnight on Sunday, voter registration ends. There won’t be any extension. There are so many things that we need to do at the back end. We have to draw a line; otherwise, we won’t be able to produce a clean copy of what has been posted,” he said.

Haruna said the commission’s Information Technology Department and Voter Registration Department would immediately begin reviewing the records after registration closes.

He explained that the Automated Biometric Identification System would detect and remove multiple registrations before the provisional voters’ register is published for public scrutiny.

“We have this automatic biometric system that will check whether somebody has registered more than once. They will publish the register for claims and objections. That is, if anybody thinks a name shouldn’t be on the register, or if he has some claims, for instance, that his name has been omitted or some of his details are incorrect,” he said.

Haruna added that the total number of newly registered voters would only be available after biometric verification and the claims and objections process.

“So, it’s after all that has been done that we will have a final figure, which we will now add to the existing 93 million or so. That will then become the voters’ register. We are mandated to give every political party a copy ahead of the election,” he added.

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Dayo Oketola, also defended the decision. He said the commission acted in line with the law and its election timetable. He dismissed concerns about technical challenges and insisted the registration portal was capable of handling applicants throughout the exercise.

According to him, the commission had already extended the exercise and conducted nationwide voter education campaigns to encourage participation.

“The states have pictorial evidence of the awareness campaigns and voter education carried out by the commission,” he added.

Meanwhile, INEC disclosed that it had registered 2,970,257 eligible Nigerians as of July 17, 2026, during Phase III, Week Nine of the CVR exercise. The figure includes both online and physical registrations. However, the commission said the data remains provisional until the completion of claims, objections and biometric verification.

The statistics showed that 970,865 people completed registration online, while 2,000,092 registered physically. Women accounted for 1,561,765 registrants, while 1,409,192 men completed the process.

Young people between the ages of 18 and 34 made up the largest group of registrants with 2,003,183 registrations. Students formed the biggest occupational category with 695,026 registrations, followed by business owners with 626,523.

Kano recorded the highest number of registrations with 234,305, followed by Lagos with 140,546 and Edo with 139,313. Bauchi recorded 96,061 registrations, while Borno had 44,866.

Despite INEC’s position, several opposition parties and civil society organisations urged the commission to extend the exercise.

African Democratic Congress (ADC) National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi argued that voter registration should not be restricted to fixed timelines.

“We have also mobilised people across the country to INEC to register, but you know it is not easy for people to abandon their daily work to go and queue for hours at INEC offices for registration. What we have done is mobilise our people at the grassroots level,” he said.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Taminu Turaki-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Ini Ememobong, said many Nigerians had lost confidence in the electoral process.

“Nigerians are discouraged, and this is putting them off registering. Unless INEC clearly demonstrates that it is impartial and capable of conducting credible elections, it will continue to have a negative impact on participation,” he said.

Labour Party National Publicity Secretary Obiora Ifoh also criticised the planned closure.

“The name of the exercise is Continuous Voter Registration, and we should start with the name and allow people who have an interest in participating in the election to register.

“I don’t see how people registering even up to December can obstruct what INEC is doing, so long as those people are not going to contest elections.

“It is only in Nigeria that electoral umpires put barriers in place to keep people from participating. In most other countries, once you have a national identity, it is enough for you to vote, but here they are making it a big deal.

“I don’t know where the idea of stopping people from participating in the CVR comes from or how it will help INEC. Millions of Nigerians will turn 18 by December. Are they saying those people should not register?” Ifoh said.

Civil society organisations also backed calls for an extension.

President of Women Arise for Change Initiative, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, said the commission should consider keeping registration open for a few more weeks because about six months remain before the elections.

“Given that there are six clear months before the general elections, there may be a need to relax the closure of voter registration for some more weeks.

“It should not be in response to the demand of political parties but in response to the need to make our democratic process more participatory. Such an extension may be effective for new voters at INEC offices nationwide only,” she said.

Chairman of the BallotEyes Working Group, Olasupo Abideen, described the closure as premature.

“To be honest, when we say something is continuous, it should be continuous voter registration. Because the moment INEC closes the portal, especially with more than six months before the election, I think it is wrong,” he said.

Executive Director of the Socio-Economic and Civic Rights Advocacy, Emmanuel Olowu, also questioned the legal basis for ending the exercise several months before the elections.

“If the law allows registration to continue until no later than 90 days before the election, why has INEC ended the exercise about 180 days before polling? What legal, administrative or logistical reasons justify this early closure?” Olowu asked.

However, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Yiaga Africa supported INEC’s decision.

APC National Vice Chairman (South-East), Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, said the commission requires a deadline to complete election preparations.

“Talking about an extension; we are willing to indulge the other political parties because they would otherwise complain that INEC is biased against them. Meanwhile, INEC gave equal time to all the political parties, and they failed to do the needful but preferred to spread false narratives to deceive the people.

“INEC also gave an extension for the upload of candidates, and we welcomed it even though we had met the initial timeframe. If it is the decision of INEC and it will not affect its programme, we have no objection,” he said.

Yiaga Africa Executive Director Samson Itodo also defended the commission’s decision.

“The commission requires sufficient time to clean the register, adjudicate claims and objections, remove duplicates, print voter registers and complete other pre-election preparations. While the closure may disappoint some prospective voters, certainty and adherence to the electoral timetable are essential for effective election planning,” he said.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government intends to keep former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai in custody until after the 2027 general election.

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, made the allegation during an appearance on Politics Today, a programme on Channels Television.

Abdullahi said the ADC does not oppose the prosecution of any individual with a legitimate case to answer. However, he argued that the conditions attached to El-Rufai’s bail raise concerns about the government’s intentions.

He said: “ADC is not opposed to anybody who has a legitimate case to answer from being prosecuted but when you are holding someone in custody for bailable offences and you proceed to arraign that person and make impossible conditions for bail to meet, it creates room for us to believe that you deliberate intend to hold this person in perpetuity.

“What I can tell you is that the thinking within the ADC is that the APC government has concluded that they will not release Mallam Nasir El-Rufai until after the election.

“That’s what we believe, that’s the plan, and that’s what they plan to do. They know that with Mallam Nasir El-Rufai freed, the opposition is stronger and they know that if they release him, he would remind them of certain things that they would rather forget.

“We in the opposition believe that they are doing everything to make sure that El-Rufai remains in custody until after the election.”

The APC had not publicly responded to the allegation at the time of filing this report.

By Anas Abbas

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal in Abuja, seeking an order to suspend the implementation of a Federal High Court judgment that directed the deregistration of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties.

At a hearing before a three-member panel of the appellate court on Tuesday, INEC expressed support for applications filed by the affected parties challenging the lower court’s decision.

The electoral body argued that it was unaware the judgment would be delivered, insisting that an earlier order of the Court of Appeal had halted the planned delivery of the ruling.

Counsel representing INEC told the court that the commission only became aware of the judgment through media reports, maintaining that no formal notice was issued regarding its delivery.

The commission therefore backed requests for a stay of execution pending the determination of the appeal.

Lawyers representing the ADC also faulted the ruling, describing it as a threat to judicial order and urging the appellate court to intervene. The party’s legal team argued that the lower court proceeded despite being aware of an order suspending the judgment, and called on the Court of Appeal to take urgent steps to preserve the integrity of the judicial process.

Other affected parties warned that enforcing the judgment could create uncertainty ahead of upcoming by-elections scheduled in several states. They urged the appellate court to prevent possible disruptions by suspending the implementation of the ruling while the appeal is being considered.

The Court of Appeal was still receiving submissions from parties involved in the matter at the time of filing this report. The case follows a Federal High Court judgment ordering INEC to deregister the ADC and four other political parties over alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral performance requirements.

By Uzair Adam

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has strongly rejected a Federal High Court judgment ordering its deregistration, describing the ruling as a dangerous development capable of undermining Nigeria’s democracy and political stability.

In a statement issued on Monday by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC alleged that the judgment reflects what it called the growing desperation of the ruling party to retain power at all costs, even if it means compromising democratic principles.

The party maintained that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is the only constitutional body empowered to register or deregister political parties and vowed to challenge the judgment through all available legal channels.

“The African Democratic Congress wishes to warn, in the strongest terms, against any attempt to use the judiciary as a tool to weaken democracy and drag the country into a political crisis,” the statement said.

The party expressed concern over the judgment reportedly delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators seeking the deregistration of the ADC and four other political parties.

According to the ADC, the plaintiffs argued that the affected parties had failed to meet constitutional requirements for continued registration.

However, the party noted that INEC, in a counter-affidavit filed in May, clearly stated that the ADC had not violated any registration conditions and that no constitutional basis existed for its deregistration.

The statement further noted that INEC reaffirmed that political parties can only be deregistered on constitutionally recognised grounds and not based on political pressure or the interests of certain individuals.

The ADC also faulted the trial judge for proceeding with the matter despite a Court of Appeal order issued on May 22, 2026, directing a stay of proceedings.

“Apart from INEC’s clear position in support of the party, the ADC finds it troubling that the trial judge disregarded a subsisting order of the Court of Appeal. Such action raises serious questions about adherence to established judicial procedures and traditions,” the party stated.

The opposition party described the development as more than a legal disagreement, insisting that it represents a dangerous escalation that could affect Nigeria’s democratic process.

The ADC further alleged that individuals linked to the ruling party played key roles in advancing the case. It also questioned the involvement of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who reportedly joined the matter as a plaintiff in April.

According to the party, the timing of the judgment is particularly suspicious, coming after it had completed its primaries and prepared candidates for all elective positions ahead of the next general election, including the presidential contest.

Despite the ruling, the ADC called on its members to remain calm and law-abiding while awaiting further directives from the party leadership. It reiterated its commitment to pursuing all lawful options to overturn the judgment.

By Uzair Adam

The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and four other political parties over their alleged failure to meet constitutional electoral requirements.

The affected parties are the Action Peoples Party (APP), Action Alliance (AA), Accord Party (AP), and Zenith Labour Party (ZLP).

Justice Peter Lifu issued the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by the National Forum of Former Legislators.

In the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2637/2026, the plaintiffs asked the court to determine whether INEC is constitutionally obligated to deregister political parties that fail to satisfy the electoral performance benchmarks stipulated in Section 225A of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), alongside provisions of the Electoral Act 2022 and relevant INEC regulations.

The forum argued that the five parties had consistently failed to meet the constitutional thresholds required to retain their registration.

According to the plaintiffs, political parties are expected to secure at least 25 per cent of votes in a state during a presidential election or win at least one elective position at the national, state, or local government level.

They maintained that the parties performed poorly in the 2023 general elections and subsequent by-elections, failing to win seats across key levels of government.

The plaintiffs further contended that the continued recognition of the parties by INEC undermines the integrity of Nigeria’s electoral system.

They urged the court to compel the electoral commission to deregister the parties before preparations for the 2027 general elections progress further.

In addition, they sought orders restraining the affected parties from participating in elections or engaging in political activities, including campaigns, rallies, and primary elections.

They also requested an injunction preventing INEC from recognising or dealing with the parties in any official capacity unless they comply with constitutional provisions.

The ruling could have significant political implications ahead of the 2027 elections, particularly for aspirants seeking to contest on the platforms of the affected parties, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

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.