The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President, David Mark, declaring its emergence illegal and invalidating decisions taken by the National Working Committee, including the process that produced former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

Justice Peter Lifu, in his judgment, upheld a suit filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the party.

Gombe argued that following the resignation of the party’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership, insisting that the emergence of Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, violated the party’s constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

The court granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, effectively invalidating the actions of the Mark-led leadership and the process through which the party conducted its presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer.

The ruling has triggered widespread political reactions, with the ADC announcing plans to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal.

The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined in the suit as an interested party, said the ADC would pursue all available legal options to overturn the decision.

Atiku, through his Director of Strategic Communication, Phrank Shaibu, accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of exploiting the judgment to frustrate his presidential ambition and weaken the opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

He questioned the timing of the ruling, which came barely a day after his campaign rally in Sokoto State, alleging that it was designed to disrupt the ADC’s growing national mobilisation and undermine his support base, particularly in the North.

Despite the development, the former Vice-President maintained that the judgment would not derail his presidential ambition or diminish his political standing across the country.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council also rejected the ruling, arguing that it contradicted an earlier judgment by a court of coordinate jurisdiction which, according to the council, affirmed the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s leaders.

In a statement by its Director of Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the council recalled that Justice Liman had previously considered the leadership dispute and upheld the transfer of leadership from Nwosu to Mark.

Meanwhile, reactions from other political parties and stakeholders have continued to trail the judgment.

While Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, SAN, described the ruling as justice well served, the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi, called on the judiciary to protect democracy and ensure certainty in the electoral process.

The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) accused the APC of using the judiciary to promote a one-party state, while the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and other opposition figures warned against developments capable of weakening political competition.

The judgment has also cast uncertainty over the ADC’s leadership structure and presidential ticket, particularly as Atiku had already been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the party’s presidential candidate and selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.

The controversy comes amid preparations for the January 16, 2027 presidential election, raising fresh questions about the legal battles and political realignments that could shape the opposition’s participation in the forthcoming polls.