In a stunning judicial setback for the African Democratic Congress (ADC), a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has nullified the processes that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The court also voided the emergence of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman, Rauf Aregbesola and other national officers of the party, throwing the ADC’s leadership structure into fresh uncertainty.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Peter Lifu upheld the suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the legality of the process through which Mark and his allies assumed control of the party.
In a far-reaching decision, the judge declared that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership was unlawful and illegal, consequently nullifying all actions taken by the leadership in the name of the ADC.
The ruling also struck at the heart of the party’s 2027 electoral ambitions, as the court ordered the cancellation of all nominations made under the disputed leadership.
This effectively invalidates the processes that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate, alongside other candidates nominated for the forthcoming general elections.
The judgment represents a major setback for the ADC, which had emerged as a political platform for opposition figures seeking to challenge the ruling party in 2027.
With the court nullifying the Mark-led leadership and its decisions, questions have arisen over the party’s immediate leadership, the status of its presidential ticket and the fate of candidates already nominated for the elections.
The ruling now places the ADC’s political future under a cloud of uncertainty, with the possibility of further legal battles looming.