ADC crisis: Court fixes October 20 to hear suit against El-Rufai, others

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court, Abuja, has fixed 20 October 2025 for the hearing of a motion seeking to restrain former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai, and two others from parading themselves as members or leaders of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Justice N.C. Nwabulu scheduled the date for a definite hearing after declining a plea by the defendants’ counsel for an adjournment.

The court also ordered El-Rufai and two other defendants to pay ₦250,000 in costs to the claimants before the next adjourned date.

The suit, marked FCT/HC/GAR/CN/383/2025, was filed by Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi through their c ounsel, Azeez Taiwo Hassan (SAN), on behalf of themselves and other concerned ADC members in Kaduna State.

The claimants are challenging what they described as the unlawful recognition of El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the ADC by its national leadership.

During Thursday’s proceedings, Hassan informed the court that his motion for interlocutory injunction, filed on 8 September 2025, was ripe for hearing.

However, while B. Elleng appeared for the third to fifth defendants, the ADC and its National Chairman, Chief David Mark, who are the first and second defendants, were absent.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), listed as the sixth defendant, was also not represented.

Elleng explained that the defence team had prepared its counter processes but was unable to file them due to the illness of their deponent, who could not sign the supporting affidavit.

He therefore sought an adjournment to regularise their filings, a request the judge rejected.

The claimants are asking the court to nullify the nomination and appointment of Jafaru Sani as ADC National Vice Chairman (North-West Zone), alleging that it violated both the party’s constitution and Nigeria’s Constitution.

They are also seeking orders to restrain El-Rufai and Sani from parading themselves as ADC members or leaders, and to prevent the party’s national leadership and INEC from recognising them in any official capacity.

Justice Nwabulu had earlier directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

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