Author: Gist Correspondent

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, declaring the caretaker committee that took over the party’s affairs illegal.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu ruled in favour of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former national deputy chairman of the ADC for the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

The court also nullified all decisions and actions taken by the Mark-led caretaker committee, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Bala had approached the court following the resignation of Ralph Nwosu, the former national chairman of the party, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the leadership of the ADC after Nwosu’s departure.

He sought an order invalidating the decisions of the caretaker committee and restraining Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as national chairman and national secretary of the party respectively.

The plaintiff argued that the emergence of Mark and other members of the caretaker committee 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), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.

In his judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Bala’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively voiding the actions of the caretaker committee and the decisions reached under its leadership.

The ruling consequently affected the process through which Atiku emerged as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

INEC had earlier published Atiku’s name as the ADC candidate for the January 16, 2027 presidential election.

Atiku, who is seeking the presidency on the ADC platform, has also selected former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

Reacting to the judgment, Nkemakolam Ukandu, ADC national welfare secretary, said the party would appeal the decision at the appellate court.