High Court Ruling: ADC Heads to Appeal, Insists Mark, Aregbesola Remain Party Leaders

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja that sacked the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee, declared its emergence unlawful, and nullified all its actions together with the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar because the celebration’s presidential candidate for the 2027 election.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the ruling on Thursday in a swimsuit filed by Nafiu Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC. Gombe had challenged the method by means of which the Mark-led management took management of the celebration after the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.

He argued that he was entitled to imagine management and sought orders nullifying the Mark committee’s actions whereas restraining Mark and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively.The courtroom upheld Gombe’s claims, declared the Mark-led Caretaker Committee unlawful and invalid, and successfully voided the presidential major that produced Atiku because the ADC candidate.

Atiku, whose title had already been printed by INEC because the celebration’s flagbearer, has chosen former Rivers State governor Rotimi Amaechi as his working mate.The judgment, coming a day after Atiku’s marketing campaign rally in Sokoto, has sparked sharp reactions. The ADC introduced it will attraction the choice on the Court of Appeal. National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, joined within the case as an celebration, confirmed the celebration’s intention to problem the decision.

The ADC Presidential Campaign Council insisted the ruling can not override an earlier judgment by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, which it mentioned had already affirmed the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola. In a press release by Director of Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan, the council famous that the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ assembly and the following July 29 National Executive Council assembly—monitored by INEC—produced the present management. It described the newest judgment as untenable and mentioned the celebration’s authorized group was searching for interim aid, together with a attainable keep of execution, whereas getting ready an attraction.

Atiku, by means of his Director of Strategic Communication Phrank Shaibu, alleged a calculated plot by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition and frustrate his presidential ambition. He questioned the timing of the ruling and vowed that the marketing campaign would proceed, describing the Sokoto turnout as proof of nationwide starvation for change.Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo, SAN, welcomed the judgment as “justice well served,” arguing that no group may merely hijack a political celebration with out correct constitutional processes. He dismissed claims of political interference and insisted the ADC remained a viable celebration with its unique leaders.

Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate Peter Obi urged the judiciary to guard democracy and guarantee certainty within the electoral course of three months earlier than the final election. The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) condemned the ruling as a part of an alleged try to impose a one-party state, whereas different opposition figures expressed concern that the choice may undermine democratic competitors.The ADC National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, accused the APC of utilizing the judiciary to cripple opposition events and warned in opposition to actions that might set the nation on a harmful path.

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