The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring its actions, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate, invalid.
The ruling was delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, who declared illegal the Mark-led caretaker committee responsible for organising the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which Mark and his allies assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as the ADC’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the actions taken by the Mark-led executives on behalf of the party.
The ruling has thrown uncertainty around the ADC’s preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election, particularly Atiku’s emergence as its presidential candidate.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as the party’s candidate, has already picked former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Reacting to the ruling, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the case as an interested party, said the judgment would be appealed.
Atiku flagged off his campaign with a rally in Sokoto on Wednesday.
