Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, is set to begin an accelerated hearing today, Monday, June 8, in a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark.

The judge had last week ordered a fast-tracked trial and adjourned the matter to today after directing all parties to file and exchange relevant processes in preparation for hearing.

However, the case has been accompanied by fresh legal controversy, as a chieftain of the ADC and Welfare Secretary of the party, Nkemakolam Ukandu, filed a motion asking Justice Lifu to withdraw from the matter.

Ukandu based his request on the existence of a petition pending before the National Judicial Council (NJC), which he said was filed against the judge and the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho.

In his motion for recusal, Ukandu argued that the subject matter of the petition and the ongoing suit involved allegations of corruption, abuse of judicial power, disobedience to court orders, and bias allegedly linked to Justice John Tsoho and Justice Peter Lifu.

The application for recusal came less than 24 hours after Ukandu himself filed a separate suit at the Federal High Court against the NJC, the Chief Judge, Justice Tsoho, and Justice Lifu, accusing them of corruption, disobedience to Supreme Court orders, and bias.

Similarly, the request also followed another motion filed by the ADC National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who urged Justice Lifu to step aside from the case.

Aregbesola, in a motion dated and filed June 1 through his counsel, Mohammed Sheriff, argued that the Constitution guarantees litigants the right to be heard by an independent and impartial court. He alleged that the judge had demonstrated bias in an earlier ruling in a related suit involving the Incorporated Trustees of the National Forum of Former Legislators versus INEC and others, where ADC was listed as the third defendant.

Ukandu, in his June 5 motion on notice, urged the court to either recuse itself, transfer the case file to the Chief Judge, or halt proceedings pending the determination of the petition before the NJC, insisting that such action would serve the interest of justice and preserve the integrity of the judiciary.

The leadership dispute involving the ADC has already passed through multiple judicial stages, including earlier rulings by Justice Emeka Nwite, who had initially ordered parties to show cause in an interlocutory application filed by a factional National Deputy Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe.

Gombe had sought orders restraining the David Mark-led leadership from presenting itself as the party’s leadership and also asked the court to bar the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising the group.

Although Justice Nwite ordered parties to respond, the defendants instead appealed, challenging the trial court’s jurisdiction on the grounds that the matter was an internal party dispute.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal and ordered accelerated hearing while directing parties to maintain the status quo ante bellum. The matter later proceeded to the Supreme Court, where parts of the earlier orders were set aside, but the apex court returned the case for accelerated trial at the Federal High Court.

Proceedings were, however, delayed on May 8 following a request for reassignment of the case from Justice Nwite. The matter was subsequently adjourned indefinitely pending the Certified True Copy of the Supreme Court judgment and a decision by the Chief Judge on the reassignment request.

Following Justice Nwite’s elevation recommendation to the Court of Appeal, the case was reassigned to Justice Lifu, a development that triggered petitions at the NJC and fresh applications questioning the judge’s impartiality.

The ADC leadership dispute, now before Justice Lifu, also includes allegations by one of the litigants that the party may not receive fair hearing due to alleged political interference and external influence.

Meanwhile, ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the party will not merge with any existing political party but remains open to alliances based on ideology ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking in Ilorin during an Eid-el-Kabir engagement with party members in Kwara State, Abdullahi said the ADC has been fielding credible candidates across various elective positions, including state and federal levels.

He said membership of the party was growing steadily and reiterated that the party remains open to new entrants from other political platforms.

Abdullahi also urged Nigerians to support the ADC, saying the party is capable of addressing insecurity and economic challenges in the country, which he blamed on current government policies.

He added that the party’s objective is to form government at both state and national levels in 2027, insisting that credible leadership and popular support would be key to achieving that goal.