The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidated all decisions taken by the party under its leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer.
The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary and other national officers, as well as the nominations of all candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.
The judgment followed a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also held that INEC should not recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
Speaking after the judgment, counsel for Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said, “All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled.”
Another counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment left the ADC without candidates for any elective position in the 2027 elections, from the presidency to the governorship, Senate and House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the ADC would appeal the judgment.
The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
