Abuja High Court Rejects Bid To Stop ADC Convention

Saturday December 20, 2025
www.thenewsdesk.ng

A Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed an application seeking to restrain the African Democratic Congress, ADC, from holding conventions, congresses, or meetings to elect or ratify members of its executive bodies and other party structures.

In his ruling on Friday, December 19, Justice Emeka Nwite refused the ex parte motion filed by a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, noting that granting such an application without hearing from the other parties would amount to overreach.

Justice Nwite recalled that on September 4, 2025, the court had ordered the defendants—including the ADC National Chairman, David Mark—to show cause why an interim order should not restrain them from acting as leaders of the party. The judge noted that all parties had since exchanged processes in the substantive matter.

“It is not in dispute that the present application is an offshoot of the substantive matter. All parties are already before this court. Hence, any ex parte application without notice to the other parties will be overreaching. The interest of justice will be met by putting the other parties on notice. Consequently, the application is refused,” Justice Nwite ruled.