A Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit challenging the party’s current leadership.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction because the dispute concerned the internal affairs of a political party, which are generally not justiciable. He also held that the plaintiff, Rep. Leke Abejide, lacked the legal standing to institute the suit and failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
Justice Liman further held that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s national chairman and national secretary complied with the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
The court also awarded N2 million in costs against Abejide in favor of each defendant and ordered his counsel to pay an additional N10 million pursuant to the Electoral Act, 2026.
Abejide had asked the court to nullify the July 2, 2025, transfer of the party’s leadership by Nwosu and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from acting as national officers of the party. He also sought an order preventing the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognizing them.
Reacting to the judgment, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the ruling as a victory for constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
In a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the judgment reaffirmed established legal principles on jurisdiction, locus standi and internal party dispute resolution.
He alleged that some political interests had attempted to weaken the opposition through litigation but said the court’s decision strengthened democratic institutions.
Atiku also maintained that the David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful and transparent process in line with the ADC constitution.
Mark welcomed the judgment, describing it as a victory for democracy, justice and the rule of law.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate president said the ruling validated the legitimacy of the party’s leadership and reaffirmed the judiciary’s role in protecting constitutional order.
He pledged that the ADC would continue to provide credible opposition ahead of the 2027 general election.
The party also welcomed the ruling, saying it reinforced its longstanding position that leadership disputes within the ADC are internal matters.
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, expressed hope that the judgment would end what he described as repeated attempts to destabilize the opposition through litigation.
The case is one of several legal challenges filed following the restructuring of the ADC and the emergence of Mark as chairman and Aregbesola as national secretary as the party positions itself ahead of the 2027 general election.
