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 by the party under the leadership, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
Upholding the plaintiff’s claims, Justice Lifu declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal, ruling that its emergence violated the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also nullified the emergence of other national officers appointed under the disputed leadership, as well as the party’s nominations for the 2027 general elections.
It further directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025, and subsequent actions, including the nomination of candidates.
The ruling also affects Atiku’s presidential ambition under ADC platform. The former Vice-President emerged as the party’s flag bearer following its presidential primary and subsequently selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Atiku’s name had earlier been published by INEC among the candidates for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
Reacting to the judgment, ADC rejected the decision, describing it as politically motivated and accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, said ADC would challenge the judgment at the appellate court.
The party also questioned the timing of the ruling, alleging that it was hastened by Atiku’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto on Wednesday. However, it did not provide evidence linking the APC to the judgment.
The development comes amid a prolonged leadership crisis in ADC following the resignation of its former national executives and the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker committee in July 2025.
The Supreme Court had in April directed the Federal High Court to conclude proceedings on the leadership dispute, without determining the substantive question of who was entitled to lead the party.
