A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, dealing a major setback to the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidated its actions, including the party’s presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC deputy national chairman, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members assumed control of the party after the resignation of its former national chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
The court also directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise decisions taken at the ADC’s National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, or subsequent actions, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.
The decision places Atiku’s presidential ambition on uncertain footing and threatens the ADC’s ability to field candidates in the coming elections if the ruling is upheld by higher courts.
However, the judgment is not necessarily the final word on the dispute. The ADC has indicated it will appeal, leaving the party’s leadership and candidate status subject to further legal proceedings.
The leadership crisis emerged after prominent politicians joined the ADC and sought to use it as a platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Sources: Premium Times, The Guardian
