Court Sacks David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Nullifies Atiku’s 2027 Ticket

In a landmark judgment with far-reaching implications for the 2027 general elections, the Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led National Executive of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), nullifying its leadership structure and decisions, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate.

The judgment, delivered on Wednesday by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal, throwing the opposition party into fresh political turmoil barely months before the commencement of critical electoral activities.

The ruling affects the ADC’s 2027 presidential campaign, as Atiku had already emerged from the party’s presidential primary, secured the publication of his name by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and announced former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

The court’s decision followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the legitimacy of the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.

Gombe had argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the position of National Chairman.

He consequently approached the court to nullify the actions and decisions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Senator Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary of the party, respectively.

The plaintiff maintained that the emergence of the caretaker leadership violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
In upholding Gombe’s claims and granting the reliefs sought, the court delivered a decision that could fundamentally alter the political calculations of the ADC and its presidential campaign ahead of the 2027 elections.

However, the party has rejected the prospect of accepting the judgment as the final word on the dispute, vowing to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.

The ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined in the proceedings as an interested party, confirmed that the party would appeal the judgment.

The development comes barely 24 hours after Atiku led a massive ADC campaign rally in Sokoto State, intensifying his political mobilisation ahead of the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
With the ADC leadership dispute now taking a dramatic judicial turn, the battle for control of the party and the fate of its much-publicised presidential ticket appear far from over.