by Mercy Emmanuel
Abuja High Court Annuls David Mark’s ADC Leadership, Strips Atiku of 2027 Presidential Ticket
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark. In a ruling delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, the court invalidated all decisions taken by the party under Mark’s stewardship, effectively voiding the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The judgment also voided the appointments of former Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary, alongside all other national officers and candidates nominated by the party across presidential, governorship, senatorial, and parliamentary races for 2027.
The verdict stems from suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 filed by former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), Nafiu Bala Gombe. Gombe contended that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally next in line to assume leadership. He requested the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from acting as chairman and secretary, joining the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola, and Nwosu as defendants.
Ruling in favor of the plaintiff, Justice Lifu affirmed that the creation of the Mark-led committee breached the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution. Consequently, the court barred INEC from recognizing or acting upon any resolutions passed during the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Addressing journalists after the session, senior advocate Lukman Fagbemi, counsel for Gombe, explained that the court struck down all actions taken by the party’s leadership since July 2025 due to blatant constitutional breaches, binding INEC to enforce the ruling.
Adding further context, co-counsel Luka Musa Haruna (SAN) noted that the court decided on the substantive suit after the Supreme Court previously remitted the case back to the Federal High Court for trial. Haruna stressed that, barring the faction loyal to substantive chairman Nafiu Bala, the ruling leaves the ADC without any validly nominated candidates for the 2027 elections.
In response to the outcome, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, who joined the suit as an interested party, indicated that the party intends to appeal the decision.
The judicial outcome arrives just a day after Atiku, whose candidate details had already been published by INEC, launched his presidential campaign at a rally in Sokoto State.