A Federal High Court in Nigeria has delivered a judgment nullifying the African Democratic Congress's (ADC) National Working Committee (NWC) led by David Mark and invalidating its presidential primary. This development has thrown the party's preparations for the 2027 general election into uncertainty. The ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, also nullified all processes leading to the nomination of candidates by the party for the forthcoming elections. The suit was instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman (North) of the party.
The ADC and its Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) have rejected the judgment, citing an earlier ruling of the same Federal High Court that had affirmed the Mark-led leadership. In a statement, the ADC PCC described Justice Lifu's decision as an academic exercise that had been overtaken by events. The party recalled that Justice Musa Liman, in a judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, had upheld the positions of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.
The ADC's National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, described the ruling as another attempt to cripple the opposition and deny Nigerians the opportunity to choose their leaders. He questioned the timing of the judgment, alleging that its delivery barely a day after the party's successful Sokoto rally was connected to the growing national support for the ADC. The party maintained that the earlier judgment by Justice Liman remained subsisting and argued that a court of coordinate jurisdiction lacked the authority to set it aside.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who is the ADC's presidential candidate, accused the ruling APC of using the judgment to frustrate his presidential ambition and weaken the ADC's growing political influence ahead of the 2027 elections. Atiku's statement was issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC PCC. Atiku alleged that the ruling came barely 24 hours after supporters welcomed him to Sokoto for the campaign launch.
The Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, expressed concern over the judgment, urging Nigerians and the judiciary to protect democratic principles and allow opposition parties to thrive. Obi said he respected the authority of the courts to determine disputes but was concerned about the uncertainty created by the ruling with the general election approaching.
The judgment has also elicited reactions from other stakeholders, including the All Progressives Congress (APC), which denied any involvement in the crisis, describing it as an internal dispute within the ADC. The APC's reaction was contained in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka.
The ADC has announced plans to challenge the ruling, including seeking appropriate interim relief and a stay of execution where legally applicable. The party's legal team is taking immediate steps to address the judgment and protect its interests. The development has raised concerns about the potential impact on the 2027 general election and the ability of opposition parties to participate effectively.
Key points
- The court ruling has nullified the ADC's National Working Committee and presidential primary.
- The ADC has rejected the judgment, citing an earlier ruling that affirmed the Mark-led leadership.
- The development has raised concerns about the potential impact on the 2027 general election and opposition parties' participation.
