Nigerian Court Nullifies ADC Leadership and Atiku Abubakar Candidacy

A Nigerian Federal High Court has delivered a major ruling nullifying the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under Senator David Mark and invalidating the presidential candidacy of Atiku Abubakar for the 2027 general elections. The judgment, handed down in Abuja by Justice Peter Lifu, also struck down the emergence of Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary and voided all decisions and primary elections conducted by the caretaker committee.

The legal challenge originated from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the former ADC national deputy chairman for the North-East, who questioned the legitimacy of the transition process following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu. Gombe argued that the installation of the interim National Working Committee violated both the party constitution and the Electoral Act 2022. Justice Lifu ruled in favor of the plaintiff, holding that the actions, congresses, and primary elections under the Mark-led administration were legally unsustainable.

In response, Rauf Aregbesola filed a notice of appeal at the Court of Appeal to overturn the judgment, arguing through his lawyer, Mohammed Sheriff, that the lower court lacked jurisdiction to hear the suit. Aregbesola also filed a separate motion seeking a stay of execution of the November 5 ruling pending the determination of the appeal. Legal representatives for the ADC have similarly announced plans to challenge the verdict at the appellate level while urging the Independent National Electoral Commission to suspend further actions regarding the party leadership dispute.

The ruling has drawn sharp condemnation from party leaders, including vice-presidential candidate Rotimi Abubakar Amaechi, who warned during a media interview that the judgment could trigger widespread unrest if it is not managed carefully. Amaechi attributed the party's ongoing legal battles to political pressure from the ruling All Progressives Congress, asserting that there is no genuine internal rift within the ADC.

The broader legal battle involved numerous procedural delays, interlocutory appeals, and a prior remand order from the Supreme Court directing parties to return to the trial court for an accelerated hearing on the substantive claims. Following administrative re-assignment of the case due to judicial reassignments, Justice Lifu ultimately heard the remaining applications and delivered the ruling that recognized Gombe's four-year tenure while restricting Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as party leaders.

As both factions prepare for the next legal showdown at the Court of Appeal, the future of the party's leadership and its 2027 political ticket remains uncertain. Supporters of Gombe have praised the verdict as a victory for the rule of law and internal party democracy, whereas opposition figures maintain that the judicial outcome represents an external attempt to weaken the political opposition.