Politics
Court Sets May 19 For Trial of Sokoto ADC Leadership Matter
A Federal High Court sitting in Sokoto has adjourned the hearing of a suit challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the state to May 19, 2026.
The court, presided over by Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, fixed the date on Friday after hearing an application seeking accelerated hearing of the matter due to the urgency of the party’s internal election timetable.
The suit, filed by Umar Faruk and three others, is challenging the leadership structure of the ADC in Sokoto State and seeking to determine the rightful executives of the party.
Lead counsel to the plaintiffs, Mathew Burkaa, SAN, told the court that the dispute centres on the control of the party’s state chapter, particularly the positions of chairman and secretary.
According to him, the plaintiffs are contesting the claims of the defendants, who currently occupy the said positions, insisting that they remain the legitimate leaders of the party in the state.
“That is the crux of the matter before this court,” Burkaa said, maintaining that his clients were duly elected and recognised as the authentic state leadership of the ADC in Sokoto.
He also told the court that the plaintiffs sought an abridgement of time to ensure the matter is resolved before the party’s primary election scheduled for May 21, 2026.
“The motion is asking for an abridgement of time so that the case can be heard expeditiously and concluded before ADC primaries are held here in Sokoto,” he submitted.
Justice Mahmud granted the application, noting the urgency of the case in relation to the party’s electoral timetable, and ordered that the matter proceed on an accelerated basis.
The court also directed the defendants to file their responses within a shortened timeframe ahead of the next adjourned date.
Speaking after the proceedings, counsel to the plaintiffs, Fidelis Mnyim, said the court had set clear timelines for filing processes by both parties to ensure an expedited hearing.
He added that all necessary responses are expected to be filed before the next hearing date.
The case was adjourned to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Ambassador-designate to South Africa, Fani-Kayode, and Ambassador-designate to Mexico, Omokri, have said power can’t return to the North in 2027.
In a statement on Saturday, both ambassador-desigantes said the North enjoyed two full uninterrupted terms under former President Muhammadu Buhari, with southern support, hence the South South be allowed to continue till 2031.
They said the South’s stay in power is not incidental but deliberate.
The statement reads partly: “We further affirm that, having completed and made full and unfettered use of two terms of four years, under the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Northern Nigeria, with the support of patriots from Southern Nigeria, had its full, uninterrupted, and undisturbed tenure in this power rotation arrangement.
“We view it as unpatriotic and inimical to the unity, equilibrium, and progress of Nigeria for anyone to even conceive of power returning to Northern Nigeria after only one term of four years, during which it was domiciled in Southern Nigeria.
“Not just in Southern Nigeria, but in the specific hands of the man who was the chief architect for the return of power to the North in 2015.”
Backing the second term of Tinubu, they said: “In view of recent political events, it has become necessary and expedient for us, Ambassadors Designate Chief Femi Fani-Kayode and Bemigho Reno Omokri, to state categorically that we believe it is in the best interest of the stability, unity, and prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and in keeping with the Gentleman’s Agreement, which ushered in our Fourth Republic in 1999, after sixteen years of turbulence and political instability, for there to be a balanced and orderly rotation of power in Nigeria, between the North and the South.”
Former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, alongside National Chairman of the NDC, Henry Seriake Dickson, paid a courtesy visit to Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso at his residence in Maitama, Abuja, on Friday night.
The visit was disclosed in a statement issued by Kwankwaso’s media aide, Hon. Saifullahi Hassan.
According to the statement, the political figures held discussions on political developments in the country, although details of the meeting were not made public.
Among those who received the visitors alongside Kwankwaso were former Kano State Deputy Governor, Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna; Senator representing Kano Central, Rufa’i Sani Hanga; prominent NNPP chieftain, Buba Galadima; and member of the House of Representatives representing Kura, Madobi and Garun Malam Federal Constituency, Yusuf Datti Kura.
Several other key figures within the Kwankwasiyya movement were also present during the meeting.
Although the exact issues discussed were not disclosed, the development is expected to further fuel speculation over ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 presidential election, especially amid reports of possible alliance talks involving Obi and Kwankwaso on a joint presidential ticket.
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