A Federal High Court in Abuja has removed Senator David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and invalidated their actions.
The ruling also affects Atiku Abubakar’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 elections.
Newsflashngr reported that the judgment followed a legal challenge by Nafiu Bala Gombe, while the ADC has vowed to appeal the decision.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 presidential ambition has suffered a major setback after a Federal High Court in Abuja nullified his emergence as the presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The court also sacked the party’s national executives led by Senator David Mark, declaring their leadership arrangement illegal.
The judgment, delivered on Thursday, November 5, 2026, could trigger fresh uncertainty within the opposition party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Court rules against David Mark-led ADC leadership
Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment after considering a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the ADC for the North-East.
Gombe had challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu.
He argued that he was constitutionally qualified to take over the party’s leadership after Nwosu left office.
The plaintiff consequently asked the court to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.
The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mark, Aregbesola and Nwosu as defendants.
Atiku’s presidential ticket affected by judgment
One of the major consequences of the ruling is the invalidation of the ADC presidential primary that produced Atiku as its flag bearer for the 2027 general elections.
The former vice president had already been listed by INEC as the party’s presidential candidate. He had also picked former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.
However, the court’s decision means the actions taken by the Mark-led leadership, including Atiku’s nomination, have been nullified.
The judgment comes at a critical period for the ADC, particularly as the party prepares to challenge President Bola Tinubu and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the next presidential election.
ADC reacts, vows to challenge judgment
The ADC has rejected the outcome of the legal battle and indicated that it would approach a higher court.
The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was later joined as an interested party in the case, said the judgment would be challenged at the appellate court.
The development also comes barely 24 hours after Atiku held a major campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Meanwhile, A video showing some youths shouting “We don’t want you” at Atiku Abubakar and his campaign team has surfaced online.
The footage emerged shortly after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential candidate flagged off his 2027 campaign in Sokoto State.
The video has triggered mixed reactions on X, with some users questioning whether the rejection was genuine or politically sponsored.
Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has become the subject of online debate after a video showing some youths allegedly rejecting him surfaced following his presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State.
The footage, which has attracted reactions on X, emerged barely hours after the African Democratic Congress (ADC) candidate officially launched his campaign in the state ahead of the 2027 general elections.
What happened after Atiku’s Sokoto campaign rally?
Atiku flagged off his presidential campaign in Sokoto on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, as the ADC began its campaign activities in the state.
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