By Yemi Oyeyemi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed June 16, 2026, to determine whether Justice Peter Lifu will continue presiding over the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark.
Justice Lifu scheduled the ruling on Monday after hearing and adopting applications filed by several parties seeking his withdrawal from the case over allegations of bias.
The suit was instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is contesting David Mark’s position as the party’s National Chairman.
The case, which is being vigorously contested by the Mark-led leadership of the ADC, had previously reached the Supreme Court before being remitted to the Federal High Court on April 30, 2026, with a directive for accelerated hearing.
However, the ADC leadership under Mark has objected to Justice Lifu handling the matter following his recent assignment to the case.
Earlier, Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court had, on May 8, 2026, adjourned proceedings indefinitely after Gombe wrote to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, requesting that the matter be reassigned to another judge.
Justice Nwite had also directed parties to provide a copy of the Supreme Court judgment, which reportedly ordered the expedited hearing of all pending applications before the trial court.
Subsequently, the case was reassigned to Justice Lifu, who assumed jurisdiction on June 3, 2026. After hearing submissions from counsel, he ordered an accelerated trial and adjourned proceedings to June 8 for the hearing of all pending applications.
At Monday’s proceedings, tensions rose as counsel sought to identify and clarify their respective processes before the court. Following heated exchanges among lawyers, Justice Lifu directed counsel to formally adopt their applications seeking his recusal from the matter.
The defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, are the ADC, Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, listed as the 1st to 5th respondents respectively.
With the exception of the second respondent and INEC, all other respondents, as well as a party seeking to be joined in the suit, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, urged the court to either recuse itself, transfer the matter to another judge, or stay proceedings, citing concerns over alleged bias.
Counsel to Ukandu, Kalu Kalu Agu, argued that petitions against both the Chief Judge and Justice Lifu are currently pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC). He also informed the court of a separate suit filed last Thursday before the Federal High Court in Abuja against the NJC, Justice Tsoho and Justice Lifu.
In opposition, counsel to Gombe, Robert Emukporo, SAN, urged the court to dismiss the applications, contending that no evidence had been presented to establish any bias on the part of the judge.
After listening to all parties, Justice Lifu reserved ruling until June 16, when he will decide whether to withdraw from the case or continue hearing the matter.