The tussle over the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took another turn on Friday as the Federal High Court in Abuja deferred proceedings in a suit challenging the Senator Tunde Mark-led executive.
The case, filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, sought an interim injunction to restrain the Mark-led faction from parading themselves as the authentic leaders of the ADC. Gombe had specifically prayed for an order to stop the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing the group pending the determination of the substantive motion.
Justice Emeka Nwite, however, adjourned the matter until September 30, citing improper service of court processes. The judge noted that although the plaintiff’s counsel claimed to have served all parties, the copy on the court’s file was blank. He further held that the law required personal service on each of the defendants, not just the political party.
In response to the suit, the ADC maintained that the matter was outside the jurisdiction of the court. The party argued that Nigerian courts, including the Supreme Court, had consistently ruled that internal leadership disputes within political parties were non-justiciable.
“The courts do not have the requisite statutory vires to interfere in or with political decisions by political parties,” the party stated.
The suit was instituted shortly after INEC updated its records to reflect the Senator Mark-led leadership, a move that has deepened internal wrangling within the ADC.
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