By Vivian Okejeme
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, will on June 16, rule on recuse application from the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, under David Mark.
This is following the adoption of arguments by counsels representing parties in the suit that wants the judge to recuse self, transfer the matter, or stay proceedings over alleged bias.
The Plaintiff, a former Deputy Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu Bala Gombe, had last year approached the court challenging Mark’s position as the national chairman of the party.
The suit which is being opposed by the Mark-led ADC had gone up to the Supreme Court and returned to the Federal High Court on April 30, 2026, for accelerated hearing.
The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, mentioned the ADC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and Chief Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th respondents.
Recall that Justice Emeka Nwite of the same court, had on May 8, shortly after the matter came back from the Supreme court, adjourned it indefinitely, following a letter by Nafiu Gombe to the Chief Judge of the fhc, Justice John Tsoho, seeking transfer of the case to another judge.
Besides, Justice Nwite also requested parties to make available the judgment of the apex court which had ordered accelerated hearing of all pending applications before the trial court.
However, few days later the matter was reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026.
However, the Mark-led ADC is opposing to the hearing of the suit by Justice Lifu and asked him to refuse self from the matter.
Adopting their motions seeking his withdrawal from further trial, Monday, the National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu, through his counsel, Kalu Kalu Agu, cited the petition against the CJ and Lifu, pending at the National Judicial Council, NJC.
He also cited another court case against the NJC, Tsoho and Lifu, also pending before the Federal High Court, Abuja, filed last week Thursday.
However, counsel to Gombe, Mr Robert Emukpero, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the motions on grounds that there is no evidence of bias against the respondents.
After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu announced that he will on June 16, 2026, rule on whether he would withdraw from the matter or continue with it.
