An Abuja Federal High Court, on Thursday, invalidated the procedures that resulted in former Vice President **Atiku Abubakar** becoming the 2027 presidential candidate for the African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Justice Peter Lifu, in a judgment, also nullified the emergence of the former Senate President, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and others as National Officers of ADC.
The judge held that all candidates nominated for the 2027 general elections also have their nominations cancelled on account of emerging from illegal and unlawful leadership of ADC.
Justice Lifu upheld the case of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a Deputy National Chairman of ADC, that David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged leaders of the party in an unlawful manner.
Gombe had, in the suit, argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and other members of their caretaker committee, from parading themselves as valid leaders of the party.
The plaintiff maintained that their emergence violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants respectively.
Delivering the judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.
Reacting to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the party would appeal the ruling.
What You Should Know
A Federal High Court has ruled that the current leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was formed illegally. As a result, the judge cancelled everything they did, including the selection of Atiku Abubakar as their 2027 presidential flagbearer and the appointment of prominent figures like David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as party officers.
- Positive Impact: This judgment emphasizes that political parties must strictly follow their own rules and the Electoral Act, which could lead to better transparency and internal democracy in Nigerian politics.
- Potential Concerns: The ruling throws the ADC into a leadership crisis and leaves Atiku Abubakar without a valid 2027 platform for now. This may lead to a long series of appeals and political instability within the party as the general elections approach.
