Susan Abayomi
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating the party’s decisions under the leadership, including the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 5, 2026, ruling that the Mark-led Caretaker Committee was illegally constituted and lacked the authority to conduct the party’s affairs.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC from the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members assumed control of the party.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership in his capacity as deputy national chairman.
He maintained that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act and relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.
The court upheld the plaintiff’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, including the nullification of decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025, and subsequent actions.
The ruling also affects the party’s presidential primary, which produced Atiku as its flag bearer, as well as the emergence of other candidates nominated by the ADC for the 2027 elections.
Atiku had earlier selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), David Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
The judgment represents another major development in the prolonged leadership crisis within the opposition party, which intensified following the transfer of leadership from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola in July 2025.
Meanwhile, the ADC has rejected the judgment and indicated its intention to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
The ruling comes at a critical period for the opposition party as political activities gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections. Its final position in the electoral contest will depend on the outcome of the anticipated legal challenge and any further judicial decisions.
