A Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja has fixed October 20, 2025, for 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 set the date for definite hearing of the claimants’ motion for interlocutory injunction after refusing a plea by the defendants’ counsel for an adjournment.
The judge also ordered El-Rufai and two other defendants to pay a cost of ₦250,000 to the claimants before the next adjourned date.
Parties: Dattijo, Abdullahi &Ors vs. El-Rufai, 2 Ors
The suit, marked FCT/HC/GAR/CN/383/2025, was filed by Hon. Adamu Ahmad Dattijo and Alhaji Suleiman Abdullahi through their counsel, Azeez Taiwo Hassan (SAN), on behalf of themselves and other concerned ADC members in Kaduna State.
The claimants are challenging the alleged recognition of El-Rufai, Jafaru Sani, and Bashir Saidu as members of the party by its national leadership.
During Thursday’s proceedings, Hassan, SAN, informed the court that his motion for interlocutory injunction dated September 8, 2025, was ripe for hearing.
However, while counsel, B. Elleng representing the third to fifth defendants appeared in court, the first and second defendants ADC and its National Chairman, Chief David Mark were not represented.
The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, listed as the sixth defendant, was also absent.
Counsel for the third to fifth defendants explained that they had prepared their counter processes but were unable to file them because their deponent was ill and could not depose to the supporting affidavit. He prayed the court for an extended adjournment to enable them regularise their filings, but Justice Nwabulu declined and fixed the matter for October 20 for definite hearing.
The claimants are seeking several reliefs, including an order setting aside the nomination and appointment of Jafaru Sani as the ADC National Vice Chairman (North West Zone) on grounds of non-compliance with the party’s constitution and the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
They are also praying the court to restrain El-Rufai and Sani from parading themselves as members or leaders of the ADC, and to bar the party’s national leadership and INEC from recognising them in any official capacity.
The court had earlier advised all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.
