Court Slams ADC, Aregbesola with N1m Cost as Judge Rejects Recusal Bid in Leadership Dispute

The Federal High Court in Abuja has imposed a N1 million cost against the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and its National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, after dismissing separate applications seeking the recusal of Justice Peter Lifu from a suit challenging the party’s leadership.

Justice Lifu, in a ruling delivered on Tuesday, described the applications as lacking merit, speculative and an abuse of court process, holding that the allegations of bias levelled against him were unsupported by any credible evidence.

The court ordered the ADC and Aregbesola to pay N500,000 each to the plaintiff, Nafiu-Bala Gombe, an aggrieved party member who instituted the suit.

The judge held that the motions were filed even before the court had assumed jurisdiction over the matter, questioning the basis for claims of judicial bias.

“There is no element of bias being painted by the applicants as alleged,” Justice Lifu ruled.

He stressed that allegations of bias are serious claims that must be supported by clear and convincing evidence, adding that the applicants had failed completely to establish their case.

“It is a cheap attempt to blackmail and intimidate the court,” the judge said, warning that courts must not allow litigants to dictate which judges hear their cases.

Justice Lifu further described the applications as an attempt at “forum shopping,” alleging that the applicants sought to have the matter reassigned to another judge perceived to be more favourable to their interests.

“Parties cannot choose which court they should be heard by. Matters are assigned by the administrative head of the court, and no litigant can determine who hears and decides their case,” he stated.

The ruling came a day after the judge reportedly delivered judgment in a separate suit directing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to deregister the ADC for allegedly failing to meet constitutional requirements.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, counsel to the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, Kalu-Kalu Agu, argued that the court should not proceed with the ruling because the party had effectively ceased to exist following Monday’s judgment.

Agu contended that since the court had ordered the deregistration of the ADC, the party no longer had legal standing in the ongoing proceedings.

However, counsel to the plaintiff, Robert Emukpoeruo (SAN), opposed the argument, insisting that Ukandu was not yet a party to the suit because his application for joinder had not been granted.

Justice Lifu agreed that the matter before him was distinct from the earlier suit in which judgment was delivered against the ADC and proceeded to deliver his ruling.

The court subsequently adjourned the case until June 23, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications.

The substantive suit was filed by Gombe against the ADC, former Senate President David Mark, Aregbesola, INEC and former ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and members of the party’s interim National Working Committee (NWC) from parading themselves as leaders of the party, arguing that their emergence violated provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.

The case continues to generate significant political interest amid ongoing legal battles over the leadership and future of the opposition party.