A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark. The court also invalidated all decisions and actions taken by the party under this leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In his ruling, Justice Peter Lifu declared the David Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal. The court invalidated the entire process through which the committee conducted the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer, alongside the nomination of candidates for gubernatorial, senatorial, and House of Assembly seats.
Additionally, the court nullified the appointment of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, as well as the selection of all other national officers and candidates presented for the upcoming 2027 polls.
Background of the Legal Dispute
The judgment was the outcome of a substantive suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by the party’s former Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe challenged the legitimacy of the process that brought Mark and other members into control of the party. He argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally next in line and entitled to assume the party’s leadership.
Consequently, Gombe asked the court to declare the actions of the Mark-led leadership unconstitutional and to restrain both Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Court Findings and Directives
Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff's arguments, ruling that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
The court issued a direct order prohibiting the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognizing or acting on any decisions made during the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, which was held on July 27, 2025.
Speaking with journalists after the verdict, the plaintiff’s counsel, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), emphasized that all party actions taken since July 2025 stand annulled. He noted that INEC has a statutory duty under Section 223 of the Constitution to ensure party compliance, and is now legally barred from acting on the invalidated NEC resolutions.
Another counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), explained that the judgment followed the conclusion of the substantive suit, which had been remitted back to the trial court by the Supreme Court following previous interlocutory appeals.
Haruna noted that the ruling effectively leaves the ADC without recognized candidates across all elective positions for the 2027 elections, unless represented by the faction loyal to Nafiu Bala, whom he described as the substantive chairman.
Party Reaction
Following the verdict, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party in the suit, indicated that the ADC intends to appeal the judgment.
The court ruling comes shortly after Atiku Abubakar commenced his presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State, following the initial publication of his name as a candidate by INEC.