APC urges ADC to settle leadership dispute after court nullifies Mark and Atiku nominations

APC criticises Atiku over ADC leadership dispute

On 6 November 2026, the All Progressives Congress (APC) publicly accused former Senate President David Mark and presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar of attempting to hijack the leadership of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) – the opposition party that had recently been renamed the All Democratic Congress (ADC). The criticism followed a Federal High Court judgment that nullified Mark’s leadership of the ADC and the party’s presidential nomination of Atiku.

In a social media announcement, the APC called on the ADC to address its internal leadership dispute instead of holding the governing party responsible for the judicial ruling. The post highlighted that the court’s ruling had removed Mark from the ADC chairmanship and invalidated Atiku’s nomination as the party’s presidential candidate.

Background

The ADC, formerly known as the All Nigeria Peoples Party, has been embroiled in a leadership dispute for several months. Former Senate President David Mark, who had been elected as the party’s chairman, was found by the Federal High Court to have been elected illegally, leading to the nullification of his leadership. Atiku Abubakar, a former Vice President of Nigeria and a prominent figure within the ADC, had been nominated by the party for the 2027 presidential election. The court’s ruling also invalidated this nomination.

The APC, which has been the ruling party since 2015, has historically maintained a tense relationship with the ADC. The party’s criticism of Mark and Atiku comes amid ongoing tensions between the two parties, with the ADC seeking to assert its independence and the APC calling for the ADC to address its internal governance issues.

Why it matters

The court’s decision has significant implications for the upcoming 2027 presidential election. With Mark’s leadership nullified and Atiku’s nomination invalidated, the ADC is left without a clear figurehead or presidential candidate. This development could affect the party’s ability to field a candidate and influence the political landscape.

The APC’s call for the ADC to resolve its leadership crisis underscores the importance of internal party governance in Nigeria’s political system. A failure to address the dispute could lead to further fragmentation within the ADC and weaken its position as an opposition force.

What happens next

According to the APC’s statement, the ADC is expected to convene a meeting to resolve the leadership dispute. No specific date for such a meeting was announced. The court’s ruling remains in effect, and the ADC must comply with the legal decision regarding its leadership and candidate nominations.

The APC’s criticism may prompt the ADC to take swift action to re‑establish a legitimate leadership structure and nominate a new presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.