Federal High Court Justice Peter Lifu has invalidated the Senator David Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and voided all actions taken on behalf of the party.
The ruling nullifies the primary election that produced former Vice-President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections. Atiku had earlier been published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a presidential candidate and chose former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
Court finds merit in Gombe’s suit
Justice Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, upholding a suit brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party.
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Gombe had challenged the process through which the Senator Mark-led committee assumed leadership of the ADC following the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu. Gombe maintained that he was qualified to assume the party’s leadership and prayed the court to nullify all actions taken by the caretaker committee.
Defendants listed in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, include the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
Party vows to appeal verdict
The ADC has vowed to appeal the judgment at the appellate court. National Welfare Secretary Mr Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was joined as an interested party, confirmed the party’s next legal steps.
The development comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a massive rally in Sokoto State as part of his campaign for the 2027 presidential election.
