The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday annulled the leadership of the African Democratic Congress headed by former Senate President David Mark and voided all decisions the party made under that leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In a judgment, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, noting that it conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer.
The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary and other national officers, along with the nominations of all candidates the party presented for the 2027 elections.
The judgment stemmed from a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee took control of the party.
Gombe contended that, following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He therefore asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola, and Nwosu were listed as defendants.
Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership breached the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.
The court further held that INEC should not recognize or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
Speaking after the judgment, counsel for Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said, “All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled.”
Another counsel for the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment left the ADC without candidates for any elective position in the 2027 elections, from the presidency to the governorship, Senate, and House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the ADC would appeal the judgment.
The ruling came barely 24 hours after Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, held a campaign rally in Sokoto State.
Details later…
