The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating decisions taken under its authority, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment delivered on Thursday, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, ruling against the leadership structure that organised the party’s presidential primary which produced Atiku as its flag bearer.
The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, alongside other national officers appointed under the disputed leadership.
The judgment further invalidated the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections, throwing its preparations for the polls into fresh uncertainty.
The ruling followed a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership as the next-ranking official.
He subsequently asked the court to nullify the emergence of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The court upheld the plaintiff’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.
