2027: ADC will be on ballot—David Mark

The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has assured party members that the party will participate in all elections in 2027, dismissing concerns over ongoing legal disputes.

Speaking on Wednesday night after a briefing from the party’s legal team on a recent judgment by the Federal High Court in Abuja, Mark expressed confidence that the litigation would not prevent the party from appearing on the ballot.

“You do not have anything to be afraid of regarding all the litigations before the party,” he said. “I want to assure you that we shall triumph in all the cases, and we shall be on the ballot for every election.”

He added that the party is fully prepared to pursue all legal avenues to secure a favourable outcome. “We are more than prepared and ready for these cases, and we shall do everything within the ambit of the law to surmount every situation,” Mark stated.

Highlighting his personal commitment, the former Senate President said he would take an active leadership role in the process. “In this legal battle, though I am not a lawyer, I will lead from the front, and we shall surely triumph,” he said.

A recent ruling by the Federal High Court in Abuja restrained the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from recognising or participating in any congress organised by a disputed caretaker leadership within the party.

It also barred David Mark and others from interfering with the tenure and functions of duly elected state executive committees, effectively affirming the authority of existing party structures.

In her judgment, Justice Joyce Abdulmalik held that while courts generally avoid вмешing in internal party matters, they can intervene where constitutional or statutory breaches are alleged. The court found that the process used to set up a congress committee by the Mark-led faction was not recognised by the party’s constitution and therefore invalid. As a result, only elected party organs were deemed legally empowered to conduct congresses, with the court nullifying parallel processes and reinforcing adherence to both the party’s constitution and Nigeria’s constitutional provisions on democratic governance.