By Joy Yesufu and Fidelia Soriwei
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and invalidated actions taken by the party’s caretaker committee, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, challenging the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The ruling declared illegal the caretaker committee that organised the party’s presidential primary, throwing the validity of Atiku’s nomination into uncertainty.
Atiku had earlier been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC’s presidential candidate and subsequently picked former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Gombe had approached the court to challenge the process through which the Mark-led committee assumed control of the party following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.
He argued that, having served as the party’s National Deputy Chairman (North-East), he was entitled to assume leadership following Nwosu’s resignation.
The plaintiff consequently asked the court to nullify decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as national chairman and secretary, respectively.
He contended that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
The court upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs he sought, effectively invalidating the actions taken by the disputed party leadership.
The judgment is expected to deepen the ADC’s internal crisis and raise fresh questions over the status of its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The development comes ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election and could have significant implications for the ADC’s preparations and its position in the opposition political landscape.
However, the party has indicated its intention to challenge the decision at the appellate court.
The National Welfare Secretary of the ADC, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party in the suit, said the party would appeal the judgment.
