A Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of former Senate President David Mark as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing a suit challenging the party’s current leadership.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, July 2, Justice Musa Liman ruled that the case filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide lacked merit.
The court upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, who now serves as the party’s National Secretary.
Justice Liman held that the court had no jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the political party, describing the matter as non-justiciable.
He also ruled that Abejide failed to establish that his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the current leadership.
According to the judge, the lawmaker did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
Justice Liman further resolved all the substantive issues raised in the suit in favour of the defendants.
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On the question of whether Mark and Aregbesola emerged in accordance with the law, the court ruled that their appointments complied with the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and relevant party procedures.
The court also held that the transfer of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to Mark did not breach the party’s constitution.
Justice Liman accepted that the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting preceded the National Executive Council meeting held on July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola formally emerged as the party’s leaders under the observation of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He consequently declared their emergence valid.
The court ordered Abejide to pay ₦2 million in costs to each of the defendants.
Justice Liman also awarded ₦10 million in costs against Abejide’s lawyer in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Abejide had asked the court to nullify Ralph Nwosu’s handover of the party’s leadership to Mark and Aregbesola, arguing that the process was unlawful.
He also sought orders restraining Mark and Aregbesola from acting as the party’s leaders and preventing INEC from recognising them.
The judgment is another legal victory for the ADC leadership at a time the party is preparing for the 2027 general elections and seeking to consolidate its internal structure following recent political realignments.