The African Democratic Congress faces a fresh complication in its internal power struggle after the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court reassigned the party's leadership dispute to another judge on Friday.
Justice John Tsoho moved the case following the elevation of Justice Emeka Nwite, who originally handled the suit, to the Court of Appeal. The reassignment means the dispute over who controls the ADC will now proceed before a different judge, potentially adding months to a battle that has already divided the party.
The ADC has been torn apart by competing claims to leadership for months. The case at the Federal High Court directly tests the party's internal structure and which faction holds legitimate control. With Nwite's move to a higher court, his cases had to be redistributed, and Tsoho assigned this politically sensitive matter to ensure it continued without delay.
It remains unclear which judge received the reassignment or when the case will next come before the court. The ADC's internal divisions have spilled into the media and courts repeatedly, with different groups claiming the right to speak for the party and control its resources. This latest development suggests the legal process will stretch on longer than some party members hoped.
