Just In: Court Removes David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring all actions taken by the committee on behalf of the party invalid.
Among the affected decisions is 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 a presidential candidate, had also 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 illegal, effectively invalidating the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the ADC.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership.
He consequently approached the court seeking 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 Senator Mark and Aregbesola from presenting 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 claims and granted the reliefs sought, a development that could trigger significant political uncertainty ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
However, the ADC has vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.
Reacting to the ruling, the party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the case as an interested party, said the party would appeal the decision.
The court’s decision comes barely 24 hours after Atiku Abubakar held a major campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 presidential election.