Sokoto ADC leadership tussle rages on as Federal High Court adjourns case
From Bashir Rabe Mani in Sokoto
The Federal High Court, siting in Sokoto on Tuesday adjourned the case on the African Democratic Congress, ADC, leadership tussle to 4th June, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The judge, Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, adjourned the case for all the parties in the case to be duly served with the processes to enable them to respond thereto, in the interest of justice.
The judge also said that the adjournment became necessary in view of the forthcoming Sallah holiday and the need for fair hearing, “more than any other thing.”
The Lead Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants, Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN, who sought for the adjournment said that the 1st, 4th and 5th defendants were not served with the processes filed by the 2nd and 3rd defendants.
According to him, the Counsel for the 2nd and 3rd defendants equally have processes being filed in the Court including a motion challenging the Ex-parte order granted by the Court on 8th May, 2026.
“The order, which was granted, abridged the time for the defendants to file their appearances to seven days, while the counsel is also challenging the suit.”
“Justice rushed, is justified crushed, so, the issue of fair hearing must be maintained,” he argued.
The Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs, Barrister Matthew Burkaa, SAN, also concurred that the defence, on need to respond to the processes filed in spite of his initial objection to the request for the adjournment.
Holding brief for the Counsel for the 1st defendant, Barrister Suleiman Usman, SAN, and Barrister A. A. Jabo, also aligned with all the submissions of Prof. Ibrahim.
All the Counsel agreed to the need for the adjournment and the judge fixed 4th June, 2026, for the legal battle to resume.
Our Correspondent in Sokoto recalls the Court had on Friday, 8th May, 2026, adjourned to May 19, 2026, the hearing of the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
The Lead Counsel to the plaintiffs, Burkaa, had told the court that there was a “hijack of power” by the second and third defendants who are allegedly claiming to be the Chairman and Secretary of the party’s Sokoto State Chapter.
He said, “That is the crux of the matter before this Court.
“We are challenging that our clients, the plaintiffs, are the rightful Chairman and Secretary of the ADC.”
The counsel had at the time asked the court to abridge the time within which the defendants can file their defence, so that the case is heard and concluded before the ADC primary election in Sokoto slated to begin on May 21, 2026.
“The motion is asking for an abridgement of time so that the case can be heard expeditiously and concluded before ADC primaries are held here in Sokoto, so that the issue of leadership will be put in the right perspective before the primaries are conducted,” he had submitted.
The Court granted the application, noting that time was of the essence.
It then adjourned the matter to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
