The Federal High Court in Abuja sacked the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark and voided the party’s presidential ticket held by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Judge Peter Lifu said the “Mark-led Caretaker Committee, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Atiku Abubakar as its flag bearer,” is illegal.
The judge sacked the entire national officers of the party, including Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary, alongside all the candidates the party presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2027 elections.
The judgement, if upheld by the higher courts, means the ADC, a major challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), is barred from fielding candidates in the upcoming general elections.
The former ADC Deputy National Chairman, North-East, Nafiu Bala Gombe instituted the suit challenging the process through which Mr Mark and other members assumed the party’s leadership.
Gombe sued the ADC, INEC, Messrs Mark, Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu.
On Thursday, the judge directed INEC not to recognise the decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of 27 July 2025.
