The Federal High Court in Abuja has removed the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring its actions on behalf of the party invalid.
The ruling also affects the party’s decision to pick former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Atiku, whose name had already been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a presidential candidate, has also selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
In his judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the ADC Caretaker Committee led by Mark was illegal. The committee had organised the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate.
The court gave the ruling after considering a case filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East).
Gombe had challenged how Mark’s committee took over the party’s leadership. He argued that he was qualified to become chairman following the resignation of former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.
He asked the court to cancel all decisions made by the Mark-led leadership and stop Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and Secretary.
The defendants included the ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.
The court granted Gombe’s requests. The ADC has vowed to appeal the judgment, with its National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, confirming that the party would challenge the decision at the appellate court.
The ruling comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
