A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Thursday, voided all the processes that led to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress for the 2027 general election.
Delivering judgement in a matter, Justice Peter Lifu also nullified the emergence of the former Senate President, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and others as National Officers of ADC.
The judge held that all candidates nominated for the 2027 general elections also have their nominations cancelled on account of emerging from illegal and unlawful leadership of ADC.
Justice Lifu upheld Nafiu Bala Gombe, a Deputy National Chairman of ADC’s case that David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola emerged leaders of the party in an unlawful manner.
Gombe had, in the suit, argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman of the party, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to take over the party’s leadership.
He consequently asked the court to invalidate all actions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola, the National Secretary, and other members of their caretaker committee, from parading themselves as valid leaders of the party.
The plaintiff maintained that the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other exco members violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission, Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as 1st to 5th defendants, respectively.
Justice Lifu, in his judgement, upheld Gombe’s claims and granted the reliefs sought.
In a swift reaction to the judgment, the ADC National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, vowed that the party would appeal the ruling.
