BREAKING: Court Sacks David Mark-led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku’s Candidacy
The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, declaring its actions on behalf of the party invalid.
Politics Nigeria reports that the ruling also invalidates the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday while ruling on a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the ADC.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was entitled to take over its leadership.
He asked the court to nullify all decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Politics Nigeria reports that the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
The court upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs he sought, effectively invalidating the actions of the Mark-led Caretaker Committee, including the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
Atiku, whose name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, had picked former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The judgment could trigger fresh uncertainty within the opposition party ahead of the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
However, the ADC has vowed to challenge the ruling at the appellate court.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party in the case, confirmed that the leadership would appeal the judgment.
This development comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his preparations for the 2027 presidential election.
At the rally, the former Vice President accused members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) of going round villages in northern Nigeria to buy voters’ cards to manipulate the electoral process.
Atiku made the allegation on Wednesday while addressing supporters at the flag-off of the ADC presidential campaign in Sokoto, where he urged Nigerians to turn out in large numbers and protect their votes.
He warned that a poor turnout could give those allegedly buying voters’ cards an opportunity to manipulate the election and create the impression that the opposition had fewer supporters in the North.
“Let us come out and vote as if it were Judgment Day. Come out in large numbers, protect your votes and escort them until they are secured,” he said.
He added, “If you fail to turn out in large numbers, people will go from village to village buying voters’ cards to create the impression that we do not have as many supporters as those in the South. Go out and cast your vote, and protect it.”
Atiku and his entourage arrived in Sokoto at about 1pm but reached the ADC State Secretariat, the venue of the rally, around 4:30pm following a large turnout of supporters.
Explaining why the party chose Sokoto for its campaign flag-off, Atiku cited the state’s historical and religious significance, describing it as a centre of peace and peaceful coexistence.
“They said we would not come to Sokoto, but here we are. They said we would not hold the campaign rally, but we have come,” he said.
“I follow history, and I also believe in peaceful coexistence. Sokoto is a centre of peace, and people of all faiths understand the importance of Sokoto to Nigeria. That is why we decided to launch our campaign in Sokoto,” he added.
The ADC candidate also promised that an administration led by his party would tackle insecurity, reopen Nigeria’s land borders and make Hajj and Christian pilgrimages more affordable.
He expressed condolences to families of victims of attacks across the country and urged Nigerians to participate in the forthcoming elections.
