By Suleiman Adamu, Sokoto
A Federal High Court, sitting in Sokoto, presided by Justice Ahmad Gama Mahmud, on Friday adjourned hearing to May 19, 2026, on a suit filed challenging the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the state.
The Lead Counsel to the plaintiffs, Barrister Mathew Burkaa, SAN, told the Court that there was a “hijack of power” by the second and third defendants who are allegedly claiming to be the Chairman and Secretary of the party’s Sokoto State Chapter.
“That is the crux of the matter before this Court”, Burkaa SAN said.
He stressed that “We are challenging that our clients, the plaintiffs, are the rightful Chairman and Secretary of the ADC in the state .”
The counsel moved a motion asking the Court to abridge the time within which the defendants can file their defence.
He argued that the request was to ensure the case is heard and concluded before the ADC primary election is held in Sokoto on 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, so that the issue of leadership will be put in the right perspective before the primaries are conducted,” he submitted.
The Court granted the application, noting that time was of the essence and adjourned the matter to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
While explaining further, the second Counsel for the plaintiffs, Barrister Fidelis Mnyim, said that the court had abridged the time for the defendants to file their processes and adjourned the case to May 19, 2026, for hearing of the entire matter.
Mnyim added ” within the adjournment, the Court expects that the defendants file their defences, adding, “if there is any replies to file, they will also be filed.”
