By Frontline Reporters
The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of Senator David Mark as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), handing the opposition party a significant legal victory ahead of the 2027 general election.
In the same breath, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar welcomed the judgment, describing it as a triumph for constitutional democracy and a clear rejection of attempts to weaken the opposition through the courts. He also reiterated his determination to pursue his 2027 presidential ambition on the platform of the ADC coalition.
Justice Musa Liman, who delivered the judgment on Thursday, dismissed a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide challenging the emergence of the current ADC leadership.
The court upheld the preliminary objections raised by the party, its former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, Senator David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, ruling that it lacked jurisdiction because the dispute concerned the internal affairs of a political party.
Justice Liman further held that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit, having failed to show how his rights had been infringed by the party’s leadership transition. The court also ruled that the plaintiff failed to exhaust the ADC’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
In addition, the judge affirmed that the process through which Mark and Aregbesola emerged as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary complied with both the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
The court subsequently awarded N2 million in costs against Abejide in favour of each of the defendants and ordered his counsel to pay an additional N10 million pursuant to the provisions of the Electoral Act.
Atiku hails verdict
Reacting to the judgment through a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, Atiku said the ruling reaffirmed the independence of the judiciary and strengthened Nigeria’s democratic process.
According to him, the court correctly ruled that issues relating to party leadership remain internal matters and that the plaintiff neither exhausted the party’s internal mechanisms nor established the legal standing required to sustain the action.
He accused unnamed political forces of attempting to destabilise opposition parties through litigation and institutional pressure, saying the judgment had frustrated such efforts.
Atiku also maintained that the David Mark-led National Working Committee emerged through a transparent and lawful process in accordance with the party’s constitution.
Calling for unity among party members, the former vice president urged supporters to remain focused on building a credible alternative ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mark: Victory for democracy
National Chairman of the ADC, Senator David Mark, described the judgment as a landmark victory not only for the party but also for Nigeria’s democratic system.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate President said the ruling reaffirmed the principle that political parties should be allowed to manage their internal affairs without undue interference.
He commended the judiciary for what he described as courage, impartiality and fidelity to the rule of law, adding that the decision strengthened confidence in Nigeria’s constitutional order.
Mark said the judgment validated the legitimacy of the current National Working Committee and reinforced the party’s commitment to providing credible opposition as the country prepares for another election cycle.
He called on party members and supporters to remain united and continue working towards strengthening democratic institutions through peaceful political engagement.
ADC welcomes judgment
The ADC also hailed the court’s decision, describing it as a victory for multiparty democracy and constitutional governance.
National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the judgment confirmed the party’s longstanding position that disputes relating to its leadership are internal matters and are not ordinarily subject to judicial intervention.
He expressed hope that the ruling would put an end to what he described as repeated attempts to destabilise the party through politically motivated litigation.
According to him, the party would now concentrate on presenting practical solutions to Nigeria’s growing economic and security challenges instead of being distracted by legal battles.
Abdullahi also praised Justice Liman for upholding the law and imposing sanctions against what he described as a frivolous lawsuit, saying the decision would discourage similar actions in future.
Background
The legal challenge followed the restructuring of the ADC, which produced Senator David Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary as part of efforts to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
The leadership changes came amid broader political realignments within the opposition, with the ADC emerging as a major coalition platform for prominent political figures seeking to challenge the ruling party.
Thursday’s judgment is expected to strengthen the legal standing of the Mark-led National Working Committee and remove a major obstacle to the party’s preparations for the 2027 elections.
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