The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidated all actions taken by the faction, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Atiku, whose name was earlier published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the presidential poll, had picked former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
However, in a judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal. The committee had organized the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s flag bearer.
The court upheld a suit filed by the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led committee took over the party’s leadership.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally qualified to assume leadership. He prayed the court to nullify all actions taken by the Mark-led executive.
Joined as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, were the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
The plaintiff urged the court to restrain Senator Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, arguing that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
The court granted the reliefs, delivering a verdict likely to shake up the political landscape ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Meanwhile, the ADC has vowed to appeal the judgment.
Reacting to the ruling, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu—who was joined as an interested party—said the verdict would be challenged at the appellate court.
The ruling comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a massive campaign rally in Sokoto State.
