Court Nullifies Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Invalidates Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Nomination

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, declaring its caretaker committee illegal.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the ADC.

The court also nullified all decisions taken by the caretaker committee, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Bala had approached the court following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, arguing that the ADC constitution entitled him to assume leadership of the party.

He consequently sought an order nullifying the decisions of the Mark-led leadership and restraining David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Bala’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the actions of the caretaker committee, including the process that led to Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential flagbearer.

INEC had earlier published Atiku’s name as the ADC candidate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election. The former Vice-President had also selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

However, reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the party would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.