ADC rejects court ruling nullifying Mark-led leadership, Atiku’s candidacy’s candidacy
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected a Federal High Court judgment nullifying the leadership of its National Working Committee (NWC), led by former Senate President David Mark, and invalidating the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The party said it would challenge the ruling through all available legal channels, arguing that the judgment threatened the political rights of its members and candidates ahead of the elections.
The ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, stated this in a statement issued on Thursday, describing the judgment as a threat to the party’s growing political influence.
In the statement titled, ‘Lifu Judgment: APC Wants to Set Nigeria on Fire’, the party questioned the timing of the ruling, saying it came amid growing political activities ahead of the 2027 elections. It also warned that the decision could affect thousands of its candidates seeking elective positions across the country.
The party argued that the case went beyond Atiku and Mark, insisting that it concerned the democratic rights of Nigerians to choose their leaders and the rights of its members to participate in elections.
Abdullahi said, “This is not about Atiku Abubakar or David Mark. It is about the democratic rights of Nigerians to freely choose their own leaders. It is about the rights of thousands of candidates to participate in a democratic process.”
The ADC also faulted the judgment, citing an earlier ruling delivered by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on July 2, 2026, in suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025. It said the earlier judgment affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led NWC and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise its leadership.
Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court, Abuja, had on Thursday nullified the Mark-led ADC leadership and invalidated decisions taken under it, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate. The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC Deputy National Chairman (North-East), who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party.
