A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark, invalidating decisions taken by the party’s caretaker committee, including the nomination of Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC national deputy chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Bala argued that following the resignation of former national chairman Ralph Nwosu, the party’s constitution entitled him to assume the leadership. He asked the court to nullify the caretaker committee’s decisions and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, named the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
Justice Lifu upheld Bala’s claims and granted the reliefs he sought, effectively invalidating the caretaker committee’s actions, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.
INEC had earlier published Atiku’s name as the ADC candidate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election. Atiku has also selected former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Reacting to the judgment, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu said the party would challenge the ruling at the appellate court.
The judgment introduces uncertainty into the party’s preparations for the 2027 election, with the legal dispute now set to continue.
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