Court voids ADC leadership: what it means for Atiku’s 2027 bid

A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by former Senate President David Mark, and set aside the decisions it took, including the primary that made Atiku Abubakar the party’s candidate for the 2027 presidential election.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, 5 November 2026, BusinessDay reported. The ADC has said it will appeal.

Who went to court, and why

The case, suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, was filed on 2 September 2025 by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East). The defendants were the ADC, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe challenged the way the party’s leadership changed after its National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, resigned in 2025. Mark then became chairman and Aregbesola became National Secretary, following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on 29 July 2025. Gombe argued that this did not follow the party’s constitution and that INEC should not have recognised the new officers.

What the court decided

According to a summary of the judgment by The Whistler, Justice Lifu:

• held that the July 2025 NEC meeting did not comply with the party’s constitution or the Electoral Act;
• set aside the meetings, decisions and resolutions of the Mark-led leadership, including those on congresses and primaries;
• ordered INEC to recognise Gombe as the party’s only recognised NEC member; and
• ruled that Mark and Aregbesola could not present themselves as party leaders under the disputed structure.

Because Atiku was nominated through a primary organised by that leadership, the judgment voids his candidacy unless it is overturned. INEC had already published Atiku as the ADC’s presidential candidate, with former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

A long road to judgment

The case passed through the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court before this judgment. In April 2026 the Supreme Court sent it back to the Federal High Court and directed an accelerated hearing. The defendants filed about 23 applications along the way, all dismissed.

What Atiku’s camp says

Atiku condemned the judgment in a statement issued by Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Naija News reported. He described it as an attempt to weaken the party and frustrate his candidacy, and noted that it came a day after his rally in Sokoto.

What happens next

• Appeal: The ADC says it will go to the Court of Appeal. An appeal, and any request to pause the judgment while it is heard, will decide whether Atiku stays on the ballot.
• The clock: The presidential election is on Saturday, 16 January 2027, under INEC’s revised timetable, leaving little time for the courts.
• INEC: The commission has not yet said publicly how it will apply the judgment to its list of candidates.

Jogos Media will update this story as the appeal progresses.