The Federal High Court in Abuja has invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, nullifying the party’s presidential ticket held by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Justice Peter Lifu ruled on Thursday that the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer, was illegally constituted.
The court also invalidated the positions of the party’s national officers, including National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and the candidacies submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other party members assumed leadership.
Court Upholds Bala Gombe’s Challenge
Gombe instituted the suit against the ADC, INEC, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and former national chairman Ralph Nwosu.
He argued that following Nwosu’s resignation as national chairman, the ADC constitution entitled him to assume leadership of the party.
The plaintiff asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark, Aregbesola and other caretaker committee members from presenting themselves as legitimate party leaders.
He maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs he sought.
Consequently, the court directed INEC not to recognise decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025, or subsequent actions, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.
If the decision survives appeals, it could prevent the ADC from fielding candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Lawyers React As ADC Plans Appeal
Speaking after the judgment, Gombe’s lawyer, Lukman Fagbemi, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said the party’s actions taken from July 27, 2025, stood annulled.
Another senior lawyer, Luka Haruna, said the ruling left the ADC without candidates for elective positions in the 2027 elections.
He said the affected positions included the presidency, governorships, Senate and House of Assembly seats.
However, the ADC’s Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, announced that the party would appeal the judgment.
The ruling is therefore subject to further judicial review.
How ADC Leadership Crisis Started
The ADC leadership dispute intensified in 2025 following the entry of prominent politicians into the party.
Those who joined included David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola, Atiku Abubakar, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi.
The politicians, who came mainly from the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party, adopted the ADC as a coalition platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
The crisis followed the resignation of the party’s former executives led by Ralph Nwosu and the emergence of a new National Working Committee under Mark on July 29, 2025.
Gombe subsequently approached the Federal High Court, seeking recognition as the party’s rightful leader under its constitution.
During the proceedings, the court directed all parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive suit.
The Court of Appeal later dismissed an interlocutory appeal filed by the Mark-led faction and ordered the parties, including INEC, to maintain the existing status quo.
Supreme Court Had Earlier Ordered Case To Continue
The dispute also reached the Supreme Court after the Mark-led faction challenged the Court of Appeal’s decision.
INEC received separate communications from the two factions on March 16, with each asking the commission to recognise its position in the leadership dispute.
On April 1, INEC removed the names of Mark and Aregbesola from its website, explaining that it would not recognise either faction while the legal dispute remained unresolved.
On April 14, the Federal High Court judge handling the case, Justice Emeka Nwite, adjourned proceedings indefinitely while awaiting the Supreme Court’s decision.
However, on April 30, the Supreme Court directed the Federal High Court in Abuja to conclude the substantive proceedings.
It also set aside the Court of Appeal order directing parties to maintain the status quo antebellum.
The latest judgment represents a fresh development in the prolonged leadership dispute, with the ADC now indicating its intention to challenge the decision on appeal.
