ADC Leadership: Court Nullifies Mark, Atiku’s 2027 Ticket »

An Abuja Federal High Court has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating decisions taken by the party under the leadership, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment on Thursday, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, ruling that the process through which it assumed control of the party violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The court also nullified the emergence of former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, alongside the appointments of other national officers and the nomination of candidates presented by the ADC for the 2027 elections.

Additionally, the court directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on July 27, 2025.

The judgment followed a suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, instituted 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 the former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.

He consequently approached the court seeking to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The ADC, INEC, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu were listed as defendants in the suit.

Upholding Gombe’s case, Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership did not comply with the party’s constitutional provisions and relevant electoral laws.

Speaking with journalists after the judgment, counsel to the plaintiff, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said the court had nullified all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership since July 27, 2025.

He explained that the ruling also placed an obligation on INEC not to recognise decisions arising from the party’s 99th NEC meeting.

Fagbemi said the court found that the leadership did not emerge through lawful constitutional procedures and that relevant provisions of the ADC constitution, Electoral Act and the Nigerian Constitution had been breached.

He added that the decision was consistent with Section 223 of the 1999 Constitution, which provides for the organisation and operation of political parties.

Another counsel to the plaintiff, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the judgment followed the determination of the substantive suit after the Supreme Court directed that the matter be returned to the Federal High Court for hearing and determination.

According to Haruna, the ruling effectively leaves the ADC without recognised candidates for elective positions in the 2027 general elections, including the presidency, governorship, Senate and House of Assembly seats.

He said: “Today, the substantive issue has been determined, and all actions taken by the David Mark-led leadership of the ADC have been declared null and void.”

Haruna further maintained that the ADC currently had no candidates for the 2027 elections under the leadership affected by the judgment, adding that the situation favoured the camp of Nafiu Bala, whom he described as the party’s substantive chairman.

However, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, reportedly said the ADC would appeal the judgment.

The ruling comes barely 24 hours after Atiku Abubakar, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, commenced his campaign with a rally in Sokoto State.

The judgment therefore introduces fresh uncertainty into the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, particularly concerning its leadership, presidential ticket and other candidate nominations.