The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring its actions on behalf of the party invalid.
The ruling affects the party’s decision to nominate former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name was previously published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a presidential candidate, has reportedly selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, invalidating the process through which it assumed control of the party and organised the primary election that produced Atiku as its presidential flag bearer.
The court ruled in favour of a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led committee emerged as the party’s leadership.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the ADC.
He subsequently asked the court to nullify all decisions and actions taken by the Mark-led leadership on behalf of the party.
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The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
The plaintiff also sought an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, arguing that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought in the suit.
The judgment could trigger fresh political developments within the opposition party ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
Reacting to the ruling, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
