Court sacks David Mark-led ADC management, nullifies Atiku’s 2027 presidential ticket

The Federal High Court in Abuja has sacked the Senator David Mark-led management of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), nullifying all choices taken by the social gathering beneath the disputed management, together with the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 common elections.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, by Justice Peter Lifu, additionally invalidated the emergence of former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, as National Secretary and different nationwide officers appointed beneath the Mark-led management, blueprint reviews.

The courtroom additional nullified the nominations of candidates offered by the social gathering for the 2027 common elections, elevating recent uncertainty over the ADC’s preparations for the forthcoming polls.

The ruling adopted a swimsuit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the social gathering, who challenged the method by which Mark and different members of the caretaker management assumed management of the ADC.

Court recognises Nafiu Bala Gombe’s declare to management

Gombe had approached the courtroom, arguing that following the resignation of the social gathering’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to imagine the management of the social gathering.

He challenged the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, insisting that the method violated the ADC structure and related provisions of the Electoral Act.

The plaintiff consequently sought an order declaring the Mark-led caretaker committee unlawful and nullifying all actions taken by the committee on behalf of the social gathering.

In its judgment, Justice Lifu upheld Gombe’s case, declaring the Mark-led caretaker management illegal and recognising the plaintiff’s declare to the social gathering’s management following the resignation of the previous executives.

The courtroom consequently invalidated choices taken by the disputed management, together with the processes that produced the social gathering’s nationwide officers and candidates for the 2027 elections.

The swimsuit was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, with the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu listed as defendants.

Atiku’s presidential ambition affected

The judgment has direct implications for Atiku’s presidential ambition beneath the ADC platform, because the courtroom nullified the method that produced him because the social gathering’s flag bearer.

Atiku’s identify had earlier been printed by INEC because the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.

The former Vice-President had additionally chosen former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his operating mate forward of the presidential contest.

However, with the courtroom invalidating the actions of the Mark-led management, the validity of the social gathering’s presidential ticket and different nominations has been thrown into query.

The improvement represents a significant setback for the opposition coalition that adopted the ADC as its political platform forward of the 2027 common elections.

ADC vows to problem judgment

Meanwhile, the social gathering has indicated its intention to problem the judgment on the appellate courtroom.

The ADC’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, mentioned the social gathering would enchantment the choice, signalling that the authorized battle over the social gathering’s management is much from over.

The judgment is anticipated to set off additional political and authorized developments inside the opposition social gathering, notably as preparations for the 2027 common elections intensify.

The ruling additionally locations the social gathering’s management construction and its capability to proceed with electoral actions beneath recent judicial scrutiny.

The improvement comes amid an ongoing management disaster that has generated competing claims over the authentic management of the ADC following the departure of its former nationwide executives.

The consequence of the anticipated enchantment might show decisive for the social gathering’s management, its presidential ticket and the political way forward for the opposition coalition forward of the 2027 elections.