Aregbesola appeals court judgement nullifying Mark-led ADC leadership

The National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has appealed the Federal High Court judgement which nullified the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership of the party.

Aregbesola, through his lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a notice of appeal on Friday, asking the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

He is challenging the jurisdiction of the lower court to entertain the suit, arguing that the judge erred in law by determining issues relating to the party’s internal leadership and the validity of resolutions reached at its 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

In the appeal, Aregbesola listed Nafiu Gombe, the ADC, Mark, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Ralph Nwosu as the first to fifth respondents, respectively.

The former Osun State governor is seeking an order overturning the lower court’s decision to invalidate his emergence as national secretary and other leadership arrangements made at the NEC meeting.

He is also asking the appellate court to set aside the declaration that Gombe’s four-year tenure remained valid and that he was entitled to take charge of the party’s affairs.

Aregbesola further urged the Court of Appeal to order a fresh hearing before another judge of the Federal High Court if it upholds the lower court’s jurisdiction but considers a retrial necessary.

In five grounds of appeal, his lawyer faulted Justice Lifu’s decision to assume jurisdiction over the dispute, despite its connection with the internal leadership arrangements of the ADC.