A Federal High Court in Abuja has invalidated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, ruling that the caretaker committee through which he assumed control of the party was illegal.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, upheld a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC national deputy chairman representing the North-East, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership.
The court also nullified all decisions and actions taken by the caretaker committee, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Bala had approached the court following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu, the party’s former national chairman, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership in line with the ADC’s internal provisions.
He challenged the authority of Mark and other members of the caretaker committee to assume control of the party, insisting that their emergence contravened the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The plaintiff consequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the committee and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s national chairman and national secretary, respectively.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
In its ruling, the court granted the reliefs sought by Bala, effectively stripping the Mark-led caretaker committee of the authority to make decisions on behalf of the party.
The judgment also casts uncertainty over the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 presidential election, particularly Atiku’s candidacy.
INEC had previously listed the former vice-president as the party’s candidate for the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027. Atiku had also selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Reacting to the development, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the party would appeal the judgment at the appellate court.
