A Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the African Democratic Congress (ADC) leadership led by former Senate President David Mark.
The court also nullified decisions taken by the disputed leadership. These include the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s 2027 presidential candidate.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 5, 2026. He declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal.
The ruling followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe. He is a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East.
Why the court removed the ADC leadership
Gombe challenged the process through which Mark and other officials assumed control of the party.
He argued that former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu’s resignation entitled him to take over the leadership.
Gombe also maintained that Mark’s emergence violated the ADC constitution. He cited relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.
The plaintiff asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the caretaker committee. He also sought an order restraining Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as party leaders.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed five defendants. They were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu.
Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs he requested. The judge also ruled that INEC should not recognise decisions from the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting.
The meeting took place on July 27, 2025.
Court ruling affects Atiku’s presidential ticket
The judgment also nullified the ADC presidential primary that produced Atiku as its candidate.
It further affected the party’s nominations for other elective positions. These include governorship, Senate and House of Representatives seats.
Atiku had selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. INEC had also published his name among the presidential candidates.
The ruling came barely a day after Atiku attended the ADC campaign flag-off in Sokoto State.
ADC plans to appeal judgment
The ADC has rejected the ruling and plans to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, confirmed the decision. He was joined in the case as an interested party.
The judgment creates fresh uncertainty for the opposition party ahead of the 2027 elections.
The presidential and National Assembly elections are scheduled for January 16, 2027. The outcome of any appeal could determine the party’s leadership and the status of its candidates.
