Court Sacks David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku’s Candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark, invalidating decisions taken by the party’s leadership, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee responsible for conducting the party’s presidential primary illegal.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.

Gombe argued that following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party.

He subsequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and Secretary, respectively.

The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

The court upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the actions of the Mark-led leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku as the party’s candidate.

Atiku, whose candidacy had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), had reportedly selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

The judgment is expected to trigger fresh political developments within the opposition party and potentially affect its preparations for the forthcoming general elections.

However, the ADC has indicated its intention to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the judgment, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the case as an interested party, said the ADC would appeal the decision.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants.