The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday upheld the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit challenging the party’s current National Working Committee and reinforcing its position that the leadership transition complied with the law.
The judgment was welcomed by the party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who described the ruling as a victory for constitutional democracy and reaffirmed his commitment to pursuing his 2027 presidential ambition.
Justice Musa Liman, who delivered the judgment, upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, its former National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and the party’s National Secretary, Rauf Aregbesola.
The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction because the dispute concerned the internal affairs of a political party, making it non-justiciable.
Justice Liman also held that the plaintiff, House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, lacked the locus standi to institute the action, having failed to establish that his rights were violated by the emergence of the current leadership.
The court further ruled that Abejide approached the court without first exhausting the ADC’s internal dispute resolution process.
Justice Liman also determined the substantive issues in the suit in favour of the defendants.
On the legality of the party’s leadership, the court held that Ralph Nwosu’s transfer of authority to David Mark did not violate the ADC Constitution.
According to the judgment, the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting, during which Nwosu handed over the party’s leadership, took place before the National Executive Committee meeting of July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola formally emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
The court declared that the emergence of both leaders complied with the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
Justice Liman also awarded N2 million in costs to each of the defendants against Abejide and directed the plaintiff’s counsel to pay N10 million pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Abejide had filed the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, on February 15 against the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and INEC, seeking to invalidate the July 2, 2025 leadership handover.
He also asked the court to restrain Mark and Aregbesola from acting as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary and sought an order preventing INEC from recognising them, arguing that their emergence violated the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
Reacting through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku praised the judgment and commended the court for its position on jurisdiction, locus standi and the requirement for parties to exhaust internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
“The court could not have been clearer. It rightly held that the matter borders on the internal affairs of the ADC, that the Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction, and that the plaintiffs neither exhausted the internal remedies provided by the party’s constitution nor established the locus standi required to invoke the jurisdiction of the court.
“We commend Justice Liman for refusing to allow the judiciary to be converted into an extension of partisan political warfare,” he said.
Atiku described the judgment as an affirmation of the rule of law despite what he alleged were sustained attempts to weaken opposition parties.
“We are particularly encouraged because this judgment comes at a time when certain desperate elements operating from the corridors of power have sought, through every conceivable means, to destabilise the opposition and frustrate the growing aspirations of millions of Nigerians who desire democratic change,” he said.
He also maintained that the David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful process.
The David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a lawful and transparent process in accordance with the constitution of our great party.
“No amount of forum shopping or judicial adventurism can alter that fact,” he said.
Atiku urged party members to remain united, describing the ADC as a credible platform ahead of future elections.
Reacting separately, David Mark described the judgment as a major victory for democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC National Chairman said the decision vindicated the party’s position on the legitimacy of its leadership and affirmed INEC’s recognition of the current National Working Committee.
“From the outset, we had maintained that democracy can only thrive when political parties operate without intimidation, undue interference, or attempts to undermine legitimate opposition.
“Today’s judgment has reaffirmed that no individual or institution is above the law and that the judiciary remains the ultimate guardian of our constitutional order,” Mark said.
He also praised the judiciary for its courage and impartiality.
The judgment is a triumph of truth and the democratic aspirations of the Nigerian people,” he added.
Mark said the ruling extended beyond the fortunes of the ADC and represented a victory for democratic governance.
This is not just a victory for our party; it is a victory for democracy, justice, and every Nigerian who believes in a vibrant political system where ideas compete freely and the will of the people ultimately prevails,” he added.
He called on party members and supporters to remain united and committed to building a stronger nation through peaceful democratic participation.
“As the party moves forward, I call on all members, supporters and other well-meaning Nigerians to remain united, focused and committed to building a stronger, more inclusive and prosperous nation through peaceful democratic engagement,” he added.
The ADC also welcomed the judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation that issues relating to its leadership are internal party matters outside the jurisdiction of the courts.
READ ALSO: Court Upholds David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Throws Out Abejide’s Suit
In a statement, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the ruling confirmed that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership complied with both the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
“The judgment once again, affirms our clear position that the issue of leadership remains an internal affair of the party and is therefore not justiciable, especially in the light of the Electoral Act, 2026.
“It also confirms that the emergence of the current leadership of our great party, led by Senator David Mark, was carried out in accordance with the law and the Constitution of the ADC,” he said.
The party expressed hope that the judgment would end what it described as repeated attempts to destabilise the opposition through litigation.
“While we view this ruling as yet another victory for multiparty democracy in Nigeria, it is our hope that this judgment will help bring to an end all the unnecessary distractions and attempts at judicial manipulation by those who are hell-bent on destabilising the opposition and foisting a one-party rule on the country,” Abdullahi added.
The ADC said its focus remained on offering alternatives to the policies of the ruling party rather than responding to legal battles.
“At a time when millions of Nigerians are confronted daily with worsening insecurity, an unbearable cost of living, rising unemployment and declining economic opportunities, our responsibility as a serious opposition party is to present practical solutions as alternatives to the people, not to be bogged down by contrived legal challenges,” the statement read in part.
The party also commended Justice Liman for what it described as his courage, particularly his decision to impose sanctions on the plaintiff and his legal representatives.
“We commend the courage shown by the presiding judge in standing firmly on the side of justice. We commend, especially, the judge’s decision to award fines against the plaintiff and his lawyers, hoping that this measure will serve as a deterrent to those who may want to pursue such frivolous actions in the future,” Abdullahi stated.
He thanked party members and supporters for standing by the party throughout the legal challenge and urged them to remain united.
The suit was one of several legal actions filed after the ADC restructured its leadership ahead of the 2027 general election, with David Mark emerging as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola becoming National Secretary.
Although some party members challenged the process in court, the ADC consistently maintained that the leadership changes complied with its constitution and electoral laws and that disputes over its internal administration were not matters for judicial intervention.
Justice Liman’s judgment reinforced that position by ruling that the plaintiff lacked the legal standing to sue, failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution process and raised issues that fell within the ADC’s internal affairs, over which the court had no jurisdiction.