The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, Senator David Mark, in a landmark judgment that could significantly disrupt the opposition party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Odo Lifu, delivering judgment on Thursday, ruled that the process through which Mark and other members of the party’s interim National Working Committee emerged violated the ADC constitution and relevant electoral provisions.
The court consequently invalidated the Mark-led caretaker committee and nullified decisions taken under its authority.
In a significant development, the ruling also invalidated the presidential primary that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election. The party had earlier selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as Atiku’s running mate.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC (North-East), who challenged the legality of Mark’s emergence as national chairman and the appointment of other members of the party’s interim leadership.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola, and former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, as defendants.
Gombe argued that following Nwosu’s resignation, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership, insisting that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
He subsequently asked the court to restrain Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the interim leadership from parading themselves as the party’s legitimate executives and to nullify decisions taken under their administration.
Upholding the plaintiff’s claims, Justice Lifu granted the reliefs sought and declared the Mark-led leadership invalid. The court also directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions arising from the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
IMPACT ON 2027 ELECTIONS
The ruling has far-reaching implications for the ADC, particularly its participation in the 2027 general elections.
Apart from invalidating Atiku’s presidential nomination, the judgment also affects the emergence of other candidates presented by the party for elective positions under the Mark-led leadership.
INEC had previously published Atiku’s name among the candidates for the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027. However, the latest court decision has thrown the validity of that nomination into serious legal uncertainty.
The development could force the opposition party to reconsider its electoral arrangements if the judgment remains in force following any appeal.
ADC TO CHALLENGE JUDGMENT
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC indicated that it would challenge the decision at the appellate court.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the matter as an interested party, said the ruling would be appealed.
The proposed appeal is expected to introduce another legal dimension to the prolonged leadership crisis, with the party’s leadership structure and electoral plans hanging in the balance.
BACKGROUND TO THE ADC LEADERSHIP CRISIS
The dispute between the Mark-led leadership and Gombe has been a major source of uncertainty within the ADC since the party underwent a leadership transition involving several opposition political figures.
The crisis attracted further judicial attention in 2026, including proceedings at the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.
On April 30, 2026, the Supreme Court set aside an earlier Court of Appeal order requiring parties to maintain the status quo in the dispute and directed that the substantive case return to the Federal High Court for an expeditious determination.
That decision did not settle the substantive question of who was entitled to lead the party.
Thursday’s judgment by Justice Lifu now represents a major development in the dispute, although the ADC’s planned appeal means the legal battle may not be over.
The ruling is expected to intensify political uncertainty within the opposition party, particularly as the 2027 general elections approach.
For the ADC, the immediate challenge will be determining the legal status of its leadership, presidential candidate and other electoral arrangements while preparing to contest the judgment.
The unfolding situation raises fresh questions about the future of the opposition coalition and its ability to remain a formidable political force ahead of the 2027 elections.