A hearing in the leadership dispute involving the African Democratic Congress (ADC) took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as senior lawyers questioned the continued hearing of the case by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja following his ruling ordering the deregistration of the party.
Counsel representing key figures in the dispute, including David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, argued that the judge’s judgment on Monday directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC and four other political parties effectively rendered the party non-existent in the eyes of the law.
The lawyers contended that if the ADC had been deregistered, there was no longer a legal basis for the court to continue hearing a case concerning its leadership structure.
They urged the court to clarify the status of the party before proceedings could continue, insisting that such clarification would determine whether the matter remained justiciable.
In response, Justice Lifu asked whether the lawyers had obtained and reviewed the Certified True Copy of the judgment. After they answered in the negative, he directed them to first study the ruling, stressing that the deregistration case was distinct from the suit challenging the party’s leadership.
The judge also delivered a ruling on an application filed by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola seeking his recusal from the case. He dismissed the application, describing it as baseless and unsupported by credible evidence.
Justice Lifu held that allegations of bias, prejudice and partiality against him had not been substantiated. He further stated that the recusal request appeared aimed at delaying proceedings and frustrating the speedy hearing of the matter.
“No responsible court of records will dance to the whims and caprices of a litigant. No court must fall to cheap blackmail and intimidation,” the judge said, adding that he would not be pressured or intimidated in the discharge of his duties.
The court subsequently imposed a fine of N500,000 each on David Mark and Aregbesola, payable to the plaintiff, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Justice Lifu adjourned the matter until June 23, 2026, for further hearing.
