The ADC rejects the Federal High Court ruling against David Mark and Atiku Abubakar, accuses APC of interference and vows to challenge the judgment
ADC Rejects Court Ruling Against David Mark, Atiku
By Newsheadline247
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of its David Mark-led faction and invalidating former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The opposition party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of attempting to undermine its political activities, insisting that it would challenge the judgment delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Thursday, the ADC questioned the timing of the judgment, alleging that it had been prepared before the court’s sitting and that the turnout at Atiku’s presidential campaign rally in Sokoto on Wednesday accelerated its delivery.
“We have reasons to believe that the judgement had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement said.
The party accused the APC of attempting to use the judiciary to weaken opposition parties and warned against actions it said could threaten Nigeria’s political stability.
“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” it said.
However, the ADC did not provide evidence linking the APC to the judgment or establishing that the ruling was influenced by Atiku’s campaign rally. The APC’s response to the allegation was not available at the time of filing.
Justice Lifu delivered the judgment in a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the ADC for the North-East, who challenged the process through which Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The court reportedly invalidated the Mark-led caretaker committee and decisions taken under its authority, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
However, the ADC said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to establish the precise terms, scope and consequential orders made by the court.
The party anchored its objection on an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same Federal High Court in a separate suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
The earlier case was instituted by Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives, who challenged the process through which Mark and Aregbesola assumed leadership positions in the party.
According to the ADC, Justice Liman’s judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise it.
Abdullahi argued that the latest ruling raised questions about the relationship between decisions delivered by courts of coordinate jurisdiction.
“It is a settled principle of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgement of another court of equal jurisdiction,” the ADC said.
The party’s argument centres on whether the two judgments, delivered in separate cases involving different claimants, create conflicting legal positions on the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
The ADC maintained that the latest judgment could have far-reaching consequences for its preparations for the 2027 elections, particularly the status of candidates nominated under the disputed leadership.
The suit filed by Gombe, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, followed the leadership transition that occurred after the departure of the party’s former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
Gombe argued that his position as Deputy National Chairman for the North-East entitled him to succeed Nwosu and consequently challenged the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola, seeking orders restraining them from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.
The dispute has also featured proceedings at the appellate courts. In April 2026, the Supreme Court set aside a Court of Appeal directive requiring parties to maintain the status quo, without determining who was legally entitled to lead the ADC.
A separate appellate ruling in July concerned INEC’s recognition of party congresses organised through committees appointed by the Mark-led leadership.
Meanwhile, Atiku launched his presidential campaign in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4, a day before Justice Lifu delivered the judgment.
The ADC said it would pursue the available legal remedies against the decision but did not confirm whether it had filed an appeal or applied for a stay of execution.
At the time of filing, INEC had not publicly announced any change to Atiku’s status on its published presidential candidate list.
The latest ruling adds another dimension to the ADC’s prolonged leadership crisis, with its implications for the party’s 2027 electoral preparations now likely to be tested through further legal proceedings.
