A Federal High Court has nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential nomination, prompting an appeal plan
ABUJA, Nigeria, 5 November 2026 — Justice Peter Lifu of the 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 caretaker committee, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
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In his judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Lifu declared the Mark-led caretaker committee “illegal” and upheld a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East, who challenged the process through which the committee assumed control of the party.
The court’s decision also affected the emergence of former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary, other national officers and candidates nominated by the party for the 2027 general elections.
Gombe argued that following the resignation of former ADC National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the party’s leadership.
He challenged the authority of Mark and his colleagues, claiming their emergence breached the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
The court granted the reliefs sought by Gombe, effectively setting aside actions taken by the caretaker leadership.
The ruling casts fresh uncertainty over Atiku’s 2027 presidential bid. INEC had earlier published his name as the ADC’s presidential candidate, while Atiku had selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
The ADC, however, has indicated that it will challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal. The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the verdict would be appealed, according to Channels Television.
The decision comes amid a prolonged dispute over the ADC’s leadership and internal processes ahead of the 2027 elections.
Earlier court proceedings and political developments had left questions over the party’s leadership unresolved, with the substantive challenge by Gombe returning to the Federal High Court for determination.
The latest judgment is therefore a significant setback for the Mark-led leadership, but the party’s planned appeal means the legal battle may continue.
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The final impact on Atiku’s nomination and other ADC candidates will depend on the outcome of further proceedings and any subsequent court orders.
