Mark assures ADC will be on ballot as court hears Nafiu-Bala’s suit Friday

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Senator David Mark

National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, on Wednesday, assured that the party would sponsor candidates that can win elections.

Mark, who stated this while addressing members of the Forum of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja, said the challenges which the party had faced would spur it to victory at the polls.

“We must close our ranks and avoid issues of factionalization. Our opponents are bringing renegades as one-man factions. We shall overcome all their shenanigans.

This is as the Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed Friday, May 8, for the hearing in the suit filed by Nafiu-Bala Gombe against Mark and others over the leadership dispute in the ADC.

It was gathered yesterday that hearing notices had been issued to parties in the suit before trial judge, Justice Emeka Nwite. Nwite fixed the date following an application letter for a hearing date in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/1819/2025, by counsel to the plaintiff (Gombe), Luka Haruna, SAN.

The letter, dated and filed on May 5, was addressed to the Deputy Chief Registrar Federal High Court in Abuja.

The letter reads: “We, Robert Emukpoeruo, SAN, Lukman O. Fagbemi, SAN, and Lukas Musa Haruna, SAN, still representing Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe, the plaintiff in the above matter pending before His Lordship, Hon. Justice Emeka Nwite of Court No. 8.

“Following the dismissal of the inteslocutory appeal filed by Senator David Mark by the Supreme Court of Nigeria on April 30, 2026, we hereby apply for a date for the accelerated heariag of this matter in accordance with the judgment of the Court of Appeal.

“Find enclosed herewith, the judgment of the Court of Appeal, which ordered for the accelerated hearing of this case.

“We shall be most grateful if you bring this application to the notice of His Lordship for his prompt action.”

Justice Nwite had, on April 14, adjourned the case since die (indefinitely) following Gombe’s request to adjourn the case indefinitely to await the Supreme Court’s judgment in the appeal filed by Mark.

The judge, who adjourned the case indefinitely, declined to grant an application by Mark-led leadership of the ADC, seeking the hearing of all pending motions, including the substantive case.

Gombe, the former National Deputy Chairman of ADC, had filed the suit seeking an order restraining Mark, the embattled National Chairman; Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and others from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

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