Court Rules Against Umar Faruk in ADC Leadership Case

On October 17, 2026, a court sitting in Sokoto dismissed a suit filed by Umar Faruk, the former State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), who sought to reclaim leadership of the party in Sokoto State. Justice Ahmad Gama ruled that the case lacked merit and evidence, resolving all four reliefs sought by the plaintiffs in favor of the respondents.

Faruk and other plaintiffs had initiated the suit in July, claiming that new entrants had taken control of the party's structure. Justice Gama stated that courts do not have the authority to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party and noted that the plaintiffs had not utilized the party's internal dispute resolution process prior to approaching the court.

Furthermore, the judge indicated that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate any violation of their fundamental human rights, which weakened their case. Suleiman Usman, a Senior Advocate representing the respondents, welcomed the ruling, describing it as sound and commendable, and emphasized the importance of substantial evidence in legal proceedings.