A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, in a ruling that has thrown fresh uncertainty over the party’s preparations for the 2027 general election.
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In a judgment delivered on Thursday, November 5, Justice Peter Lifu ruled that the Mark-led caretaker committee was illegally constituted, upholding the claims of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former deputy national chairman of the party.
The court also invalidated decisions taken by the committee, including actions relating to the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
The case arose from a leadership dispute that followed the resignation of Ralph Nwosu, the party’s former national chairman. Bala argued that, as a senior party official, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the leadership after Nwosu’s departure.
He challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party, insisting that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
Bala consequently approached the court, seeking to invalidate the committee’s decisions and prevent 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.
The dispute has been a major source of internal tension within the ADC since 2025, with Bala challenging the new leadership arrangement through the courts. The case had also gone through several legal proceedings, including appeals and delays, before the Federal High Court delivered its judgment.
The ruling now raises questions about the status of the party’s 2027 presidential ticket. INEC had earlier published Atiku’s name as the ADC’s presidential candidate, while the former vice-president had selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the party would challenge the decision at the appellate court.
The planned appeal could prolong the leadership crisis and leave the party facing further legal and political uncertainty as preparations for the 2027 elections gather momentum.