Court Tension Rises as ADC Chieftain Demands Justice Suleiman’s Recusal

The ongoing legal dispute involving chieftains of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has taken a dramatic turn, as one of the parties seeking to be joined in the suit, Mr.

Nkemakolam Ukandu, has called on the presiding judge, Justice Liman Suleiman, to recuse himself from the case.
In a motion on notice dated March 26, 2026, and filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the ADC chieftain argued that he would not receive a fair hearing if Justice Suleiman continues to preside over the matter. He stated that the actions taken so far by the judge suggest elements of bias.
Ukandu is therefore seeking an order of the court directing that the case file in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 be returned to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment to another judge.
He is also asking the court to stay further proceedings on the matter pending a decision by the Chief Judge, as well as requesting that the presiding judge step aside from the case.
Through his counsel, Kalu Kalu Age Esq, the applicant further argued that Justice Suleiman entertained and granted an application without serving a hearing notice and an amendment application on Ukandu’s legal team, an action he said deprived the court of jurisdiction to hear the matter.
In a 26-paragraph affidavit personally deposed to, Ukandu accused Justice Suleiman of allegedly delivering rulings that favour the interests of Nyesom Wike, describing the situation as an attempt to weaken opposition political parties in Nigeria.
It will be recalled that Hon. Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, had earlier filed a suit challenging the process through which Senator David Mark and others assumed leadership of the ADC.
Although Abejide has since been expelled from the party over alleged anti-party activities, including openly supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second-term bid, he has continued to challenge the party’s leadership in court, alongside parties such as Ukandu, who currently serves as the welfare secretary of the ADC.