The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, invalidating all decisions taken by the party under the leadership.
The ruling also casts uncertainty over the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, ruling against the leadership structure responsible for conducting the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.
The court ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party.
He consequently approached the court seeking to invalidate all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, a development that could significantly disrupt the ADC’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Reacting to the judgment, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the ruling.
The court decision comes barely 24 hours after Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Atiku had also reportedly selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The ruling now raises fresh questions about the ADC’s leadership structure, the validity of its presidential primary and the party’s readiness for the 2027 general election.
