Northern ADC Chairmen Reject Court Ruling Removing Mark, Plan NJC Petition

The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal High Court judgment removing the national leadership led by former Senate President David Mark.

The forum said it would challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal and petition the National Judicial Council (NJC) over what it described as procedural violations and disregard for an earlier judgment.

The position was contained in a statement jointly signed by the state chairmen following the November 5 judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The court had nullified the emergence of Mark and other members of the party’s caretaker leadership, ruling that the process had not satisfied the statutory requirement for democratic election.

However, the northern chairmen argued that the decision contradicted an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same court in a separate case involving the ADC.

They maintained that the earlier ruling recognised the party’s leadership transition from its founder, Ralph Nwosu, to the National Working Committee led by Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.

The forum also questioned the jurisdiction of the court to intervene in the party’s internal administration and challenged the plaintiff’s legal standing to institute the case.

It further argued that the judgment affected candidates who were not joined in the proceedings, raising concerns about their right to a fair hearing.

The chairmen said their legal team had filed a notice of appeal and applications for interim injunctions and a stay of execution.

They also announced plans to submit a petition to the NJC, alleging that the judgment contained procedural irregularities and failed to respect the earlier decision of a court of coordinate jurisdiction.

The forum reaffirmed its support for Mark’s leadership and urged party members to remain committed while the legal challenge continued.