The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring its caretaker committee illegal and invalidating all decisions taken under its authority, including the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, ruling that the process through which the Mark-led caretaker committee assumed control of the opposition party was unlawful.
The court consequently set aside the actions and decisions of the disputed leadership, including the presidential primary election that produced Atiku as the ADC’s flag bearer for the forthcoming general elections.
The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the legitimacy of the leadership arrangement that brought Mark and his associates to power within the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the ADC’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the party.
He approached the court seeking an order declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and nullifying all actions taken by the committee on behalf of the ADC.
In his ruling, Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s arguments, declaring the caretaker committee unlawful and invalidating the decisions taken under its authority.
The judgment effectively nullifies Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the ADC’s presidential candidate, throwing the party’s preparations for the 2027 general elections into uncertainty.
The development is expected to trigger fresh political and legal developments within the opposition party as it grapples with the implications of the court’s decision and the future of its leadership and presidential ticket.
The ruling comes amid ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 general elections, with opposition parties seeking to strengthen their structures and strategies to challenge the ruling party.
Further developments are expected as the ADC leadership and other affected stakeholders respond to the judgment.
