The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, has welcomed the Federal High Court judgment delivered on Thursday that removed the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), stating that “justice may be slow, but it is always sure!”
Keyamo, reacting to the outcome, said the manner in which the party was taken over could not stand. He said, “You cannot invade a political party owned and built by Nigerians and hijack it with the connivance of a so-called National Chairman without a prior meeting and approval of a mini National Convention or the National Executive Committee.”
The minister added that those behind the takeover could not “bluff your way out of such a brazen act by blaming and blackmailing the ruling Party for a misfortune deliberately stocked by you.”
The judgment came after a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, which was filed by the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe. He asked the court to nullify all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership, arguing that after the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was qualified to take over the party’s leadership.
The defendants were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief Nwosu. Gombe also asked the court to stop Senator Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, insisting that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act.
Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s claims and granted his reliefs.
Keyamo insisted that the court acted on the law and not on public feeling. He said, “Sorry, but the law is decided on facts and evidence, rather than sentiments and outrage by a group of people.”
The ruling came just 24 hours after Atiku held a rally in Sokoto State as part of his campaign for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
INEC had earlier published his name as a presidential candidate, and he has since picked a former governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ADC has announced that it will contest the judgment at the Court of Appeal. Mr. Nkemakolam Ukandu, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, made known the decision to appeal.
Keyamo, however, dismissed the notion that the judgment endangers democracy. “It is not only when a certain Atiku Abubakar contests the presidency that democracy is not in danger. The ADC as a party is well and alive and populated by people and original leaders who are no less Nigerians than David Mark and his illegal band of marauders,” he added.
