A Federal High Court in Abuja has ruled that the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark is illegal. This decision has significant implications for Atiku Abubakar, the party's presidential candidate for the January 2027 election. The court's ruling was made in response to a lawsuit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former national vice-president of the ADC for the North-East zone.
The court's decision, delivered by Judge Peter Odo Lifu, declared that the transition committee led by David Mark was illegitimate and therefore, all decisions made under his leadership, including the party's primaries that chose Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate, are null and void. This ruling also affects Rauf Aregbesola, a former governor of Osun State, who was designated as the party's national secretary.
The lawsuit was based on the grounds that Mark's and Aregbesola's appointments contravened the ADC's constitution, the electoral law, and relevant provisions of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution. The judge's ruling emphasized that these appointments were illegal and therefore, all decisions made by the party's National Executive Committee, including its 99th meeting held on July 27, 2025, should not be validated by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court's decision has significant implications for the ADC's electoral aspirations in 2027. Atiku Abubakar, a former vice-president, had been chosen as the party's presidential candidate through a primary election. He had also selected Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, as his running mate. The ADC's weakened position may affect its chances in the upcoming presidential election.
The ruling party, however, has not officially reacted to the court's decision. It is unclear how this development will affect the party's preparations for the 2027 election. The ADC is one of Nigeria's opposition parties, and its performance in the election will be closely watched by political analysts and Nigerians.
Atiku Abubakar's presidential ambition for 2027 has suffered a significant setback with this court ruling. His supporters and party members will need to regroup and strategize in response to this development. The ADC's leadership crisis may have far-reaching consequences for the party's future.
The court's decision has sparked mixed reactions from Nigerians, with some calling for the party to seek redress in a higher court. The ADC may still explore options for appealing the ruling or re-strategizing its leadership to ensure a strong presence in the 2027 election.
Key points
- Nigerian court rules that Atiku Abubakar's candidacy for 2027 presidential election is invalid
- Court declares leadership of African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by David Mark as illegal
- Ruling affects party's electoral aspirations and presidential candidate selection process
