The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of former Senate President David Mark as the National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing a suit challenging the party’s new leadership structure.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman dismissed the suit filed by the member representing Yagba Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Leke Abejide, which sought to nullify the emergence of Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.

The court upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and Aregbesola, holding that the action was without merit.

Justice Liman ruled that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of a political party, noting that the plaintiff failed to establish that his constitutional or legal rights had been infringed by the emergence of the new leadership.

The judge further held that the decision by Nwosu to hand over the party’s leadership to Mark did not contravene the provisions of the ADC Constitution.

According to the court, the stakeholders’ meeting held on July 2, 2025, lawfully preceded the party’s National Executive Council meeting of July 29, 2025, at which Mark and Aregbesola formally emerged as the party’s national leaders.

Justice Liman declared that their emergence complied with the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution, the Electoral Act and the constitution of the African Democratic Congress.

“Their emergence was valid and in line with the Constitution, the Electoral Act and the party’s law,” the court held.

The court also awarded costs against the plaintiff, directing Abejide to pay ₦2 million each to all the defendants.

In addition, Justice Liman ordered Abejide’s counsel to pay ₦10 million in costs, citing the relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

Abejide had approached the court seeking an order nullifying the transfer of the party’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola, while also asking the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising the new leadership.

The judgment effectively clears the legal challenge against the ADC leadership, affirming David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.