The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Delivering the judgment, Justice Musa Liman dismissed a legal challenge brought by House of Representatives member, Representative Leke Abejide, who had contested the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as the party's national chairman and national secretary, respectively. The court ruled that the lawmaker's suit lacked merit.

Grounds for Dismissal

Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola. The court established several key grounds for dismissing the suit:

• Jurisdiction: The court ruled that it lacked the jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the ADC, declaring the matter non-justiciable.

• Locus Standi: The judge determined that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the lawsuit, as he failed to demonstrate that his personal rights had been violated by the leadership transition.

• Internal Dispute Resolution: The plaintiff failed to utilize the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanisms before seeking judicial intervention.

Validity of the Leadership Transition

In addressing the substantive aspects of the case, Justice Liman resolved all three core issues in favor of the defendants.

The court found that the transition of leadership from the former national chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, to Senator Mark adhered strictly to the party’s constitution. The judge clarified that a disputed meeting on July 2, 2025, was a preliminary stakeholder gathering. This meeting preceded the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on July 29, 2025, which officially produced the Mark and Aregbesola leadership and was duly monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Consequently, the court declared the appointments valid and compliant with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act of 2026, and broader legal frameworks.

Financial Penalties Imposed

As a result of the ruling, Justice Liman imposed substantial financial penalties:

• Plaintiff Leke Abejide was ordered to pay a fine of N2 million to each of the defendants.

• The plaintiff's legal counsel was handed a N10 million fine in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.

Case Background

Abejide initiated the lawsuit in February 2025 through an originating summons, naming the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, and INEC as defendants. The lawmaker had sought an injunction to invalidate the July 2025 leadership handover at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, restrain Mark and Aregbesola from acting as party executives, and block INEC from recognizing them, alleging violations of statutory electoral requirements.