The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating the party’s decisions, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal, ruling that the body lacked the constitutional authority to conduct the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku.
The court also set aside the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, alongside other national officers.
It further nullified the nominations of all candidates presented by the ADC for the 2027 elections.
The judgment followed a suit filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, challenging the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the ADC.
He consequently sought the nullification of the decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.
Upholding the plaintiff’s arguments, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership contravened the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also directed INEC not to recognise or act on resolutions reached at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Reacting to the judgment, Gombe’s counsel, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said, “All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled.”
Another lawyer to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the ruling effectively left the party without candidates for any elective position in the 2027 elections, including the presidency, governorship, Senate and House of Assembly seats.
However, the ADC’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the case as an interested party, said the party would appeal the judgment.
The ruling comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections and a day after Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
The development is a major setback for the ADC’s leadership and its preparations for the forthcoming elections, as the party seeks to challenge the ruling and preserve its electoral plans.
