Abuja Federal High Court has nullified the David Mark-led ADC leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 nomination in a ruling the party plans to appeal.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating decisions taken by the party under its leadership, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its 2027 presidential candidate.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday in a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.In his ruling, Justice Lifu declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, holding that its emergence violated the ADC constitution, provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The court also nullified the emergence of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, the appointments of other national officers and the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.
Furthermore, the judge directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
However, the ADC has rejected the judgment and vowed to challenge it through available judicial processes, while Atiku described the ruling as an attempt to weaken his political movement.
The development has introduced fresh uncertainty into the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections as the legal battle continues.
