The African Democratic Congress (ADC) faces fresh uncertainty ahead of the 2027 general elections following a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja invalidating the party’s leadership under former Senate President David Mark.
The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, also affects the party’s presidential nomination process, which produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its candidate.
Atiku had previously appeared on the presidential candidates’ list published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechinamed as his running mate.
The court declared the caretaker committee headed by Mark unlawful and invalidated decisions taken by the committee on behalf of the ADC, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku.
The judgment followed a leadership dispute initiated by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman representing the North-East.
Gombe challenged the circumstances surrounding the emergence of the Mark-led leadership, arguing that the process violated the party’s constitution.
According to the plaintiff, the resignation of former ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu entitled him to assume the party’s leadership under its internal succession arrangements.
He consequently approached the Federal High Court seeking judicial intervention to determine the legitimacy of the caretaker committee and invalidate its decisions.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
Gombe also asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
He maintained that their assumption of those positions contravened the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
In his judgment, Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought, effectively rejecting the legal basis of the caretaker committee’s leadership.
The decision has raised questions about the status of actions undertaken by the affected party officials, particularly the presidential primary and the nomination submitted to INEC.
However, the judgment may not represent the final resolution of the dispute, as the ADC has announced plans to challenge the decision before the Court of Appeal.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the proceedings as an interested party, confirmed its intention to appeal.
The legal challenge comes as political parties prepare for the 2027 general elections, scheduled for January 16, 2027, according to the report.
The outcome of the proposed appeal could have significant implications for the ADC’s leadership arrangements and presidential nomination.
For now, the judgment has introduced another legal obstacle for the opposition party as it seeks to consolidate its structures and prepare for the forthcoming elections.
Ezeana Emmanuel
