A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the Mark-led caretaker committee, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The judgment was delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, who ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who had challenged the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership.
Why the court removed David Mark’s leadership
The legal dispute followed the resignation of Ralph Nwosu, the former national chairman of the ADC, after which Mark and other party figures assumed control through a caretaker committee.
Bala challenged the arrangement, arguing that the ADC constitution entitled him to take over the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s departure.
He maintained that the emergence of Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary did not comply with the party’s constitution or relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In the suit, Bala asked the court to declare the caretaker committee’s leadership illegal and invalidate decisions taken under its authority.
He also sought an order restraining Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The case, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Bala’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought, effectively nullifying the decisions of the Mark-led caretaker committee.
Reacting to the judgment, Nkemakolam Ukandu, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, said the party would challenge the decision at the appellate court.