The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday, November 5, nullified the Senator David Mark leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment, also invalidated all decisions taken by the party under the Mark-led leadership.
Justice Lifu declared as illegal the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which conducted the primary election that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The judge ruled in favour of former ADC National Deputy Chairman, North-East, Mr Nafiu-Bala Gombe, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe had, in the suit, argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions taken by the Mark leadership and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and other members of their caretaker committee, from parading themselves as valid leaders of the party.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as first to fifth defendants.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the ruling.
