A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that a resignation letter allegedly signed by Nafiu Bala, a former deputy national chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, was not genuine.

The court rejected the document, which the party had presented to argue that Bala voluntarily resigned from his position before the emergence of the leadership led by former Senate President David Mark.

In its judgment delivered on November 5, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu said the disputed letter could not be accepted as reliable evidence that Bala had relinquished his position.

The judge reached the decision after comparing the signature on the resignation letter with those on other documents submitted by Bala during the proceedings.

He found that the signatures were materially different and could not reasonably be considered to have been written by the same person.

“The fact that a document is certified, however, does not, by that fact alone, settle a genuine dispute as to whether the person named in it actually signed it,” the judge held.

The court also ruled that the ADC failed to prove that the appointment of Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and other party officials followed the democratic election process required by law.

Bala had approached the court to challenge the emergence of Mark as national chairman and Aregbesola as national secretary following the party’s 99th National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting held on July 29, 2025.

He argued that he was elected deputy national chairman on October 12, 2022, for a four-year tenure ending on October 11, 2026, and remained the only elected member of the party’s National Working Committee who had not resigned.

He also challenged the authenticity of a resignation letter dated May 17, 2025, insisting that the signature on the document was a forged and poor imitation of his genuine signature.

However, the ADC and other defendants maintained that Bala had voluntarily resigned and therefore lacked the legal right to challenge the party’s subsequent decisions.

They also argued that the party’s NEC had the authority to dissolve the existing National Working Committee and appoint new officers.

Rejecting their position, Justice Lifu said the defendants failed to provide sufficient evidence that party members or duly elected delegates participated in a democratic election to choose the new leadership.

The judge further explained that INEC’s decision to receive notice of the meeting and monitor its proceedings did not amount to proof that a valid election had taken place.

“The fact that INEC received notice of the meeting and monitored its proceedings does not fill this evidential gap. Notice to the Commission and democratic election are separate requirements, and proof of the former is not proof of the latter,” he said.

The court also held that the powers granted to the NEC under the ADC constitution could not override the constitutional and legal requirements for electing party executives.

It subsequently granted Bala’s substantive claims, nullified the relevant decisions taken at the July 29, 2025 meeting and restrained INEC from recognising Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the disputed National Working Committee as legitimate officers of the party.

Nigeria and Jamaica are set to strengthen bilateral aviation relations as both countries move closer to concluding and signing their reviewed Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA), following a meeting between the Honourable Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, and the Jamaican High Commissioner to Nigeria, His Excellency Lincoln Downer.

The meeting focused on the finalisation of the existing BASA between the two countries, with particular emphasis on enhancing air travel, improving connectivity and creating a stronger framework for aviation cooperation between Nigeria and Jamaica.

The agreement, which has been in the pipeline, has undergone extensive legal and technical reviews by officials of both countries, with the respective teams working to perfect the necessary documentation ahead of its formal endorsement.

Speaking during the meeting, High Commissioner Downer expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far, noting that both countries had reached a critical stage in the process and were now looking towards setting a date for the signing.

He said: “So we’re pleased now that we’re at the point where we can now sign. We shared the legally reviewed text with your team, so I haven’t heard from them. That’s what I wanted to know today, where we stand, so that we can then set the date. You can give us an update?”

A statement by Tunde Moshood, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Hon. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, quoted Keyamo to have requested the relevant file to ascertain the status of the documentation. He was briefed that the agreement had already undergone the necessary review by the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and had been returned, with the process now at an advanced stage of completion.

The Minister subsequently directed that a final copy of the agreement be made available to the Jamaican High Commissioner for a final review and proofreading to ensure that both parties are fully satisfied with the text before proceeding to the signing.

Both sides are now working towards agreeing on a mutually convenient date for the formal endorsement, tentatively scheduled to take place in Kingston, Jamaica, either in the last week of November or the first week of December 2026.

The proposed signing represents another significant step in Nigeria’s efforts to deepen international aviation partnerships, expand air connectivity and strengthen bilateral cooperation through mutually beneficial air services agreements.

For Nigeria and Jamaica, the conclusion of the BASA is expected to provide an important framework for advancing aviation relations, facilitating easier air travel and exploring opportunities for stronger economic, tourism and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

The Minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring the timely conclusion of the agreement, while directing relevant officials to expedite the final documentation process in readiness for the proposed signing in Jamaica.

The David Mark-led faction of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has approached the Court of Appeal to challenge the Federal High Court judgement that removed its leadership.

The opposition party also disclosed that it had filed an application seeking a stay of execution of the judgement pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.

The party made this known in a statement on Friday, November 6, adding that it had formally notified the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of the legal steps taken,

The appeal is against the judgement delivered by the Federal High Court in Abuja on November 5, 2026, in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1619/2025, involving Hon. Nafiu Bala Gombe and the ADC.

The party urged INEC to refrain from taking any further action on the matter until the Court of Appeal has considered the case.

It argued that the application for a stay of execution was yet to be decided and that the electoral commission should not take any step that could affect the outcome of the appeal.

According to the ADC, it expects INEC to respect the ongoing legal process and allow the appellate court to hear the matter before making any decision connected to the judgement.

The statement partly read, “The ADC is exercising its lawful right to appeal. The judgement is now being challenged before a higher court, and the legal process must be allowed to run its course.

“We expect INEC to uphold the law and take full account of the pending proceedings before making any consequential decisions.”

The party also urged its members and supporters to remain calm, insisting that the court judgement would not stop its political activities.

It said its campaigns would continue while it explored all available legal options to defend its position.