BREAKING: Court Sacks Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku Primary

A fresh leadership crisis has engulfed the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the Federal High Court in Abuja nullified the David Mark-led caretaker leadership of the party and voided all actions taken by the committee, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its 2027 candidate.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Peter Lifu upheld the claims of 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.

The ruling casts uncertainty over Atiku’s candidacy, whose name had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the January 16, 2027 election. Atiku had also selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

Gombe had approached the court following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the ADC.

He consequently asked the court to nullify the actions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Ogbeni Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The plaintiff contended that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.

Justice Lifu found merit in Gombe’s case and granted the reliefs sought, effectively declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and invalidating decisions taken by the in leadership, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.

The judgment could trigger further political and legal battles within the ADC, particularly with the 2027 presidential election approaching.

The party has, however, indicated its intention to challenge the ruling.

Reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the decision.