Court Sacks David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku’s Presidential Candidacy

By Reporter

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring its emergence illegal and nullifying all actions taken by the committee on behalf of the party.

The ruling effectively invalidates the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate, had already selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu declared the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which organised the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku, illegal.

The court also upheld the claims of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who had challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.

Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the ADC.

He consequently approached the court seeking, among other reliefs, an order nullifying all decisions and actions taken by the Senator Mark-led leadership.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

The plaintiff also asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively, arguing that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought.

The judgment has thrown the ADC’s 2027 presidential ambition into uncertainty, particularly with the January 16, 2027 presidential election approaching.

The party has, however, vowed to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.

Reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the matter as an interested party, said the party would appeal the decision.

The development comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a massive campaign rally in Sokoto State, as part of his mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 presidential election.