Court adjourns Sokoto ADC leadership suit to June 4

From Bashir Rabe Mani, Sokoto

As the ongoing leadership tussle in the Sokoto State chapter of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), rages on, as the Federal High Court, sitting in Sokoto on Tuesday adjourned the case to 4th June, 2026, for continuation of hearing.
The Court, presided by Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, held that it will be ideal for all the parties to be duly served with the processes and also be given the opportunity to respond thereto in the interest of justice.
Justice Mahmud noted that the adjounment became necessary in view of the forthcoming Sallah celebrations 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.”
Prof. Ibrahim told the Court, “Justice rushed, is justified crushed, so, the issue of fair hearing must be maintained.
The Lead Counsel for the Plaintiffs, Barrister Matthew Burkaa, SAN, also concurred that the defendants need to respond to the processes filed in spite of his initial objection to the request for the adjounment.
Holding brief for the Counsel for the 1st defendant, Barrister Suleiman Usman, SAN, Barrister A. A. Jabo, also aligned with all the submissions of Prof. Abdullahi Ibrahim, SAN.
All the Counsels later concurred on the next adjourned date of 4th June, 2026, for the legal battle to recur.
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, Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, 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 moved a motion asking the Court to abridge the time within which the defendants can file their defence.
He argued that the request was to ensure the case is heard and concluded before the ADC primary election is held in Sokoto beginning from 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 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.

Expatiating further, the second Counsel for the plaintiffs, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim, said that the court had abridged the time for the defendants to file their processes and adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the entire matter.

According to Mnyim, within the adjournment, the Court expects that the defendants file their defences, adding, “if there is any replies to file, they will also be filed.”