Abuja court declares David Mark-led ADC caretaker committee illegal, invalidating its actions, including Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination.

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has delivered a major political blow to the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring the party’s caretaker committee led by former Senate President David Mark illegal and voiding all actions taken under its leadership.

The landmark ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, effectively nullified the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential flagbearer for the upcoming 2027 general elections.

Ground of the Legal Battle

The judgment followed a suit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025) instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC.

Gombe challenged the process through which the David Mark-led caretaker committee assumed leadership of the party following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu. He contended that under the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, he was the rightful official to assume the leadership role.

In his verdict, Justice Lifu held that:

• The emergence of Senator David Mark as National Chairman and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary violated the ADC constitution and legal provisions governing political party administration.
• All actions, primary elections, resolutions, and executive decisions carried out by the Mark-led leadership—including the endorsement and nomination of Atiku Abubakar—are null, void, and of no legal effect.

“The court found merit in the suit and granted all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, confirming that the setup of the caretaker committee bypassed established party rules,” the judgment stated.

ADC and Atiku React: Appeal Underway

Reacting to the judgment, Atiku Abubakar described the court’s decision as a calculated attempt by political opponents to destabilize opposition movements ahead of the 2027 polls.

Meanwhile, the ADC leadership rejected the judgment and confirmed plans to immediately challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal to restore the caretaker committee and protect its candidate’s ticket.

Keep locked on NaijaTunesHub for continuous updates on breaking politics