The Federal High Court in Abuja has indefinitely adjourned the suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress under former Senate President David Mark after the plaintiff requested that the matter be reassigned to another judge.

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 after counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna, informed the court that a letter had already been submitted to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court seeking transfer of the suit.

According to Haruna, the application requesting reassignment of the matter was dated May 4, 2026.

Before the adjournment, the plaintiff’s lawyer also disclosed that the Supreme Court of Nigeria had on April 30 dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by David Mark against the proceedings.

He further stated that the apex court vacated an earlier order of the Court of Appeal which had stayed proceedings in the substantive matter.

However, lawyers representing the defendants strongly opposed the request for transfer.

Counsel to the second defendant, Sulaiman Usman, described the move as forum shopping and judge shopping.

Similarly, counsel to the fifth defendant, P.I. Oyewole, argued that the plaintiff was attempting to pressure the Chief Judge into what he described as judicial rascality.

In his ruling, Justice Nwite held that the court could not take any decision on the transfer application without hearing all parties involved, stressing that acting otherwise could violate the defendants’ fundamental rights.

The judge subsequently adjourned the matter sine die to allow parties file the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and ensure that the transfer request letter is formally served on all defendants.

The court also stated that it would await directives from the Chief Judge concerning the request for reassignment.

The suit was instituted by ADC chieftain Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is seeking an order restraining David Mark, former Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola and others from parading themselves as leaders of the party.

According to the plaintiff, their emergence allegedly violated the party’s constitution as well as provisions of the Electoral Act.