The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday adjourned a suit filed by Mr Nafiu-Bala Gombe, seeking to stop David Mark and others from parading themselves as leaders of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, until June 30.

The matter, which was fixed for hearing of all pending applications, could not proceed.

Earlier when the matter was called, all the lawyers to the parties were present except Mr Suleiman Usman, SAN, counsel for Mark.

With the agreement of counsel, Justice Peter Lifu stood down the matter for 15 minutes to give Usman the opportunity to also be heard, and another case was called pending the senior lawyer’s arrival.

However, after the case ended, Justice Lifu stood down proceedings and rose.

Lawyers were then asked to take another date after waiting for some minutes.

Justice Lifu had, on June 16, fixed Tuesday for hearing of all the pending applications after he dismissed the application seeking his recusal from the case.

The judge, who held that the two motions filed by ADC and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (1st and 3rd defendants) lacked merit, awarded a fine of N1 million each against ADC and Aregbesola, National Secretary of the party, in favour of Gombe.

ADC and Aregbesola had, in separate motions, asked Justice Lifu to withdraw from the suit filed by Gombe, citing alleged bias.

Gombe, in the suit, is seeking an order restraining Mark, Aregbesola and members of their interim National Working Committee, NWC, from parading themselves as the party’s leaders.

He had argued that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other interim NWC members breached the provisions of the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.

Gombe had sued ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and Ralph Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

Nwosu was the former ADC National Chairman who stepped down for the David Mark-led Interim National Working Committee.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti on Tuesday received the certificate of return from the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, following his victory in last Saturday’s governorship election.

INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, Dr Bunmi Omoseyindemi, who represented INEC Chairman Prof Joseph Amupitan, presented the certificate to Oyebanji at the commission’s state headquarters in Ado-Ekiti.

The REC congratulated the governor on his re-election and commended the people of the state for conducting themselves peacefully throughout the electoral process.

He said the successful conduct of the election reflected the commitment of INEC and other stakeholders to strengthening democratic governance in the state.

Omoseyindemi urged all political actors to continue to uphold democratic values.

The event was attended by party leaders, government officials, traditional rulers and supporters of the governor.

A group within the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Tuesday expressed concerns over what it describes as a drastic decline in turnout of voters during the Ondo South by-election held on Saturday.

The Grassroots Movement for Tinubu GMT, Ondo State chapter stated that the sharp decline witnessed in voter turnout, when compared to previous elections held in the state, calls for reflection.

While congratulating the winner of the by-election, Prof. Dayo Faduyile of the APC, GMT in a statement issued by its Director of Media, Ojo Oyewamide, maintained that the development should serve as a “wake-up call” for the party in the state, particularly since the 2027 general election is fast approaching.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, had declared Faduyile, a former National President of the Nigerian Medical Association, NMA, winner after polling 68,474 votes across the six local government areas of the senatorial district.

The group, which described the outing of the APC as unimpressive, disclosed that the party was able to secure a total of 126,196 votes in the senatorial district in the 2024 governorship election that produced Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“According to the distribution of the votes, APC in 2024 scored 26,811 in Okitipupa, 17,127 in Irele, 24,414 in Ilaje, 14,511 in Ese-Odo, 26,683 in Odigbo, and 16,600 in Ile-Oluji/Oke-Igbo.

“This development is even more noteworthy considering that Hon. Agboola Ajayi, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2024 election, alongside several notable PDP leaders and supporters, has since joined the APC. Ordinarily, the influx of such political heavyweights and their supporters should have translated into increased electoral strength for our party.

“The lesson is clear. Victory should not breed complacency. Rather, it should inspire introspection, reconciliation, and renewed grassroots mobilization. The APC in Ondo State must urgently embark on genuine reconciliation and inclusive party-building. Every stakeholder must be carried along.

“The task before us is bigger than any individual or group. We cannot afford internal divisions at a time when preparations for the 2027 presidential election should already be gathering momentum.

“GMT also wishes to commend the Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his unwavering commitment to the success of President Tinubu and the APC. His support for various grassroots political groups has significantly expanded the reach of the Renewed Hope message across Ondo State,” Oyewamide said.