By Christian Abolu
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, and invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The court also nullified the emergence of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the ADC for the 2027 elections.
Justice Peter Lifu, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, held that the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku, was illegal.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC for the North-East, challenging the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker leadership assumed control of the party.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Mark, Aregbesola, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, as defendants.
Gombe had approached the court seeking to invalidate the emergence of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the caretaker committee from parading themselves as the party’s legitimate national officers.
He argued that following Nwosu’s resignation as National Chairman, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the party.
He also maintained that the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Upholding Gombe’s claims, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership contravened the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The judge consequently directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, or subsequent actions arising from it, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling effectively invalidates the party’s presidential ticket held by Atiku, as well as the nominations of its candidates for other elective positions, pending any successful appeal against the judgment.
Gombe’s legal challenge dates back to September 2, 2025, when he filed the suit following the leadership transition triggered by Nwosu’s departure.
The case had suffered delays arising from interlocutory applications and appeals. In April 2026, the Supreme Court directed the Federal High Court to return to the substantive matter and conclude proceedings expeditiously.
The apex court’s intervention followed an appeal by the Mark-led faction against an earlier Court of Appeal decision in the dispute.
The Supreme Court’s directive was procedural and did not determine the substantive question of who was entitled to lead the ADC.
Reacting to Thursday’s judgment, counsel to Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said all actions taken by the ADC under the Mark-led leadership from July 27, 2025, stood annulled.
Another lawyer to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment left the party without candidates for the 2027 elections at the presidential, governorship, senatorial and House of Assembly levels.
However, the ADC indicated that it would challenge the judgment on appeal.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the decision.
