Court Nullifies David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Ruling Puts Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Bid in Doubt
E-ISSN: 2354-4481
By Maxwell Nnorima Amah
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 actions taken by the committee on behalf of the party.
The ruling could affect the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections, as the court held that the Mark-led committee lacked the authority to conduct party activities, including the presidential primary.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu upheld a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.
Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally qualified to assume the leadership position.
He subsequently approached the court, seeking an order nullifying the actions of the Mark-led caretaker committee and restraining David Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that the emergence of the new leadership violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu as defendants.
The court granted the reliefs sought by Gombe, effectively invalidating decisions and activities undertaken by the caretaker committee.
The judgment has raised questions about the status of Atiku Abubakar's presidential candidacy under the ADC platform. Atiku had earlier been listed by INEC as the party's presidential candidate and selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
The ruling, however, comes after the ADC kicked of her presidential campaign in Sokoto State ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027, and could trigger further legal and political developments within the opposition party.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC rejected the court's decision and vowed to challenge it at the Court of Appeal.
The party's National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the case as an interested party, confirmed that the ADC would appeal the ruling.
The planned appeal is expected to determine the next legal steps in the leadership dispute and the implications for the party's preparations for the 2027 general elections.
