The presidential ambition of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has suffered a setback, following the ruling today of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The court, in a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu, nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under which umbrella Atiku is a candidate in next year’s elections.
In declaring the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, the court also invalidated all decisions taken by the party under the leadership of former Senate President David Mark.
It equally nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary and other national officers, as well as the nominations of all candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.
The latest are a fallout of a suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe, in the suit challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership, following the resignation of the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu,
Gombe asked the court both to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party.
His plea was upheld by Justice Lifu, also holding that INEC should not recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.
“All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled”, counsel for Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said, afterwards.
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