The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgement that sacked its David Mark-led leadership and invalidated Atiku Abubakar's presidential nomination. In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it would challenge the judgement delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja. The party alleged that the judgement had been prepared before Thursday and that its delivery was hastened by the turnout at Atiku's presidential campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday.
The ADC accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to stop it from contesting the 2027 elections. The party warned the APC against what it described as attempts to use the courts to exclude political opponents. "We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party," it said. The APC's response to the allegation had not been obtained at the time of filing.
According to Channels Television, the court invalidated decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku. The ADC said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgement to establish what the judge actually ordered. The party based its objection on a 2 July judgement delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
The case was brought by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, who challenged the process through which Messrs Mark and Rauf Aregbesola assumed office. Justice Liman dismissed the suit, upholding the leadership transition. Mr Abdullahi argued that Justice Lifu's ruling conflicted with the earlier judgement. "It is a settled principle of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgement of another court of equal jurisdiction," the ADC said.
The two cases were brought by different claimants. The ADC said it would challenge Thursday's decision but did not confirm whether it had filed an appeal or sought a stay of execution. Leadership dispute arose from the ADC leadership transition following the departure of former national chairman Ralph Nwosu. Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East), challenged the emergence of Mr Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as the party's national chairman and secretary.
Mr Gombe sought orders restraining Messrs Mark and Aregbesola from acting as the party's national chairman and secretary. PREMIUM TIMES examined the leadership litigation in an October report. In April, the Supreme Court set aside a Court of Appeal directive requiring the parties to maintain the status quo, without deciding who was entitled to lead the ADC.
A separate appellate ruling in July concerned INEC's recognition of party congresses organised through committees appointed by the Mark-led leadership. Mr Atiku launched his presidential campaign in Sokoto on Wednesday, a day before Justice Lifu's ruling. The Independent National Electoral Commission had not publicly announced any change to Atiku's status on its published presidential candidate list at the time of filing.
Key points
- The ADC party rejects the court judgement.
- The judgement was delivered by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.
- The ADC will challenge the judgement.
