By Our Reporter
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, striking a major blow to the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The court also invalidated all decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, ruling that the committee lacked the constitutional authority to take control of the party and conduct its presidential primary.
The judgment equally nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, alongside other national officers appointed under the disputed leadership.
The court further invalidated the nominations of all candidates presented by the ADC for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling 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 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 asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
The ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.
Upholding the plaintiff’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated provisions of the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The judge also directed that INEC should not recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Reacting to the judgment, counsel to Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said all actions taken by the party under the disputed leadership since July 27, 2025, had been nullified.
Another lawyer representing the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the decision effectively left the ADC without candidates for the 2027 elections at all levels, including the presidential, governorship, Senate and House of Representatives contests.
However, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the case 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 the ADC’s presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
The judgment is expected to trigger fresh political and legal developments within the opposition party as it considers its next move ahead of the 2027 general elections.