The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress headed by former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a complaint filed by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide, contesting the party’s leadership structure.
Justice Musa Liman delivered the decision, ruling that the claim lacked substance and was not justiciable because it involved a political party’s internal matters.
The court sustained the preliminary objections brought by the ADC, its previous national chairman, Ralph Nwosu; the incumbent national chairman, David Mark; and the party’s national secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
Justice Liman decided that Abejide failed to prove that any of his legal rights had been harmed by the formation of the current administration.
He also ruled that the lawmaker had not exhausted the party’s internal conflict resolution mechanism before filing the action.
According to the court, questions concerning the internal administration and leadership of political parties are normally outside the scope of the courts, unless there is a clear violation of the law or an infringement on a member’s legal rights.
The court ruled in favor of the defendants, stating that the leadership transition from Nwosu to Mark did not violate the ADC Constitution or the Electoral Act.
Justice Liman also ruled that the stakeholders’ meeting on July 2, 2025, which preceded the party’s National Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 2025, was part of the legitimate process that resulted in Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary.
As part of the verdict, the court ordered Abejide to pay N2 million in legal fees to each of the defendants.
It also granted N10 million to his attorney in accordance with the Electoral Act.
Abejide filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 on February 15, seeking to nullify the party’s leadership transition from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola, claiming that the procedure was unconstitutional.
The legislator joined the ADC, Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola, and the Independent National Electoral Commission as defendants.
Abejide requested the court to annul the July 2, 2025, handover held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, saying that Mark’s and Aregbesola’s appointments violated the Electoral Act.
He further requested that the court prohibit both party leaders from acting in their official capacities and prevent INEC from recognizing them as the ADC’s national chairman and national secretary.
However, Justice Liman dismissed all of the arguments and upheld the legitimacy of the African Democratic Congress’ current leadership.
The African Democratic Congress has undergone a leadership shift as opposition MPs seek to boost the party ahead of the 2027 national elections.
Former Senate President David Mark was named the party’s national chairman, and Aregbesola was appointed national secretary, acts that sparked both political interest and legal objections from some party members.
