The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the Senator David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), invalidating decisions taken by the committee, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s candidate for the 2027 general election.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC for the North-East, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership emerged.
Gombe had approached the court following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party.
He asked the court to nullify the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and former Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff argued that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In its ruling, Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee invalid and nullifying decisions taken under its leadership.
The affected decisions include the process that produced Atiku as the ADC’s presidential flag bearer for the 2027 elections.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
The judgment has cast fresh uncertainty over the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, particularly the status of Atiku’s candidacy. The former vice-president had earlier been listed by INEC as the party’s presidential candidate and had selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
Reacting to the ruling, the ADC indicated that it would challenge the decision at the appellate court.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the judgment.
The ruling adds another dimension to the leadership crisis within the ADC, which has faced multiple legal challenges over its national leadership, internal congresses and the authority of its caretaker committee ahead of the 2027 general elections.