ADC Leadership Tussle: Nafiu Bala Makes Major Request, Details Emerge
- The Federal High Court in Abuja on Friday, May 8, adjourned indefinitely the suit filed by Nafiu Bala-Gombe, challenging the ADC’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark
- Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely after the plaintiff informed the court that he had applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for the transfer of the case to another judge
- The ADC questioned the move by lawyers to Bala seeking the reassignment and transfer of his suit against the David Mark-led National Working Committee
Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering politics, elections, and governance in Nigeria and Africa.
FCT, Abuja - Nafiu Bala, former deputy national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), has asked the chief judge of the Federal High Court for a change of the judge handling the matter.
As reported on Friday, May 8, by Premium Times, Bala-Gombe, who is laying claim to the party’s chairmanship seat, sought a transfer of his suit from Judge Emeka Nwite to another judge. This, he said, is to enable judicial impartiality.
Source: Facebook
ADC leadership suit adjourned indefinitely
Judge Nwite adjourned the matter indefinitely after parties to the suit clashed over a letter already written by the plaintiff to Chief Judge John Tsoho requesting the re-assignment of the case.
The suit was filed by Bala-Gombe against the ADC, along with the interim chairman of the party, who recently got the Supreme Court’s validation, David Mark, and interim secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), and Ralph Nwosu.
ADC warns federal government
Meanwhile, the ADC has accused agents of the federal government of attempting to interfere in the party’s ongoing leadership dispute between Mark and Bala at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement signed by Bolaji Abdullahi, the opposition party's national spokesperson, the ADC accused the government of covertly pressuring the judge, Nwite, to recuse himself from the matter so it can be reassigned to judges “perceived to be pliable and politically compliant."
Source: Twitter
Arise News quoted ADC's Abdullahi as saying:
“This sinister plot, if allowed to stand, represents a direct assault on the integrity of the judiciary and a dangerous escalation in the ongoing attempts to weaponise state institutions against the opposition.
“We have credible reasons to believe that this unusual haste is part of a calculated scheme to force Justice Nwite into recusing himself, thereby creating an opening for the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the matter to judges allegedly considered more amenable to political influence.”
Read more on ADC coalition:
- 2027 election: ADC responds to rumours INEC refused to recognise David Mark's new leadership
- 2027 election: Did Senator Abdulaziz Yar'Adua dump APC for ADC? Lawmaker speaks out
- 2027 election: ADC speaks as Rabiu Kwankwaso reportedly considers joining party
Jonathan reportedly discussing with ADC
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that a chieftain of the ADC said the party had been holding discreet talks with former President Goodluck Jonathan over a possible presidential run in the 2027 elections.
A principal member of the ADC disclosed that the party had been holding talks with Jonathan to join its platform.
Asked if the former president would be given an automatic presidential ticket, the ADC chieftain said the party has not decided on that.
Source: Legit.ng
