BREAKING: Court Sacks Mark-Led ADC NWC, Nullifies Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Candidacy

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, invalidating decisions taken by the party under the leadership, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 5, 2026, declaring the Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and ruling that its emergence violated the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act and the 1999 Constitution.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.

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

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.

The court also invalidated Aregbesola’s emergence as National Secretary and the nominations of other candidates presented by the party for the 2027 elections.

It further directed INEC not to recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting held on July 27, 2025.

Counsel to the plaintiff, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), said the ruling nullified actions taken by the party under the Mark-led leadership from July 27, 2025.

Another counsel, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), said the decision affected the party’s candidates across elective positions, including the presidency, governorship, Senate and House of Representatives.

Reacting to the judgment, ADC National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu said the party would appeal the decision at the Court of Appeal.

The ruling comes a day after Atiku held a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his preparations for the 2027 presidential election.

The legal dispute creates fresh uncertainty for the ADC’s electoral preparations, with the party expected to challenge the judgment through the appellate process.