Federal High Court in Abuja rules against David Mark-led leadership following a suit challenging the party’s leadership structure.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has declared the Senator David Mark-led caretaker committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) illegal, invalidating its decisions, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, ruling that the process through which the Mark-led committee assumed control of the party was unlawful.
The case was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the ADC’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the legitimacy of the caretaker leadership.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was entitled to assume the party’s leadership. He subsequently approached the court to challenge the caretaker committee and sought the nullification of decisions taken under its authority.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu upheld the suit and declared the caretaker committee unlawful. The decision effectively invalidates actions taken by the committee, including the presidential nomination process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s flagbearer.
Other defendants in the suit included the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
The judgment comes amid preparations for the 2027 general elections and raises fresh questions about the ADC’s leadership structure and the validity of its presidential nomination process.
Atiku had recently participated in the party’s campaign activities in Sokoto, where the ADC mobilised supporters ahead of the forthcoming elections.
As of the time of this report, there was no indication in the court report whether the affected parties intended to appeal the judgment or seek a stay of execution.
