Fresh Blow to ADC as Court Ousts Mark-Led Leadership, Invalidates Atiku’s Candidacy
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suffered another major setback in its efforts to consolidate its position as the rallying platform for opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general...
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has suffered another major setback in its efforts to consolidate its position as the rallying platform for opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections, following a Federal High Court judgment nullifying its leadership led by former Senate President David Mark and invalidating the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, also nullified the emergence of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as the party’s National Secretary, alongside other national officers and decisions taken under the disputed leadership.
The Judge, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, further invalidated the nominations of candidates presented by the party for the 2027 general elections, raising fresh uncertainties over the political future of the opposition platform and the ambitions of its leading figures.
The latest development comes about 16 months after prominent opposition politicians from different political parties adopted the ADC as their common platform to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 elections.
In July 2025, opposition leaders, including Atiku, the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, former Kaduna State Governor Nasir el-Rufai, Mark Aregbesola and former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, gathered for a media briefing held at the Yar’Adua Centre and announced their decision to adopt the ADC as the platform for their proposed opposition coalition following consultations among political leaders seeking to unite opposition forces under a common political platform.
Other prominent figures associated with the coalition included former APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun; former PDP National Chairman, Uche Secondus; former Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung; former Senator Dino Melaye; former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi; former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola; former Minister of Information, Dele Momodu; former Ebonyi State Governor, Sam Egwu; former Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal; and Senator Ireti Kingibe.
Before the public announcement, the ADC’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, and other members of the party’s National Working Committee had resigned their positions to pave the way for the coalition-backed leadership.
Mark subsequently emerged as the interim National Chairman, while Aregbesola was appointed National Secretary, and former Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi became the party’s spokesperson to unite opposition forces and provide Nigerians with an alternative political platform ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the adoption of the ADC was not without controversy, as some existing party stakeholders accused the coalition leaders of taking over the party without adequately consulting its established structures, a development which led to the defection of some of the founding politicians.
The disagreement soon developed into a leadership dispute, with Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman from the North-East, laying claim to the party’s leadership following Nwosu’s resignation.
Gombe maintained that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the position of National Chairman and challenged the legitimacy of the Mark-led caretaker committee, resulting to a court case that has now produced the latest judgment.
He challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party, arguing that the emergence of the new leadership violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the country’s electoral laws.
Delivering judgment, Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s case, declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal. He also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the ADC’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.
Counsel to the plaintiff, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said the judgment nullified actions taken by the party under the Mark-led leadership from July 27, 2025, to date, adding that the decision is leaving the ADC without validly nominated candidates for elective positions in the 2027 elections, including the presidency, governorship, Senate, and House of Representatives.
The ADC, however, has rejected the judgment and announced its intention to challenge the decision through the appellate courts.
In a statement on the legal issue, the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the ruling as a threat to the democratic rights of its members and candidates, arguing that the judgment could affect thousands of people seeking elective offices under the party.
He also referenced an earlier judgment delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court on July 2, 2026, which it said had affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed INEC to recognise its leadership, insisting that the latest judgment raised questions about the legal principle that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over the decision of another court of equal status.
The party said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the latest judgment to determine its precise terms and the legal grounds for its appeal.
The latest development has therefore reopened the legal battle over the ownership and control of the ADC, with potential consequences for the opposition coalition and its preparations for the 2027 general elections.
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