Federal High Court nullifies ADC leadership and Atiku Abubakar’s 2027 candidacy

Court ruling overturns ADC leadership and Atiku’s candidacy

On Thursday, the Federal High Court in Abuja issued a judgment that declared the caretaker committee headed by Senator David Mark illegal. Justice Peter Lifu also nullified every decision taken by that committee, including the party’s presidential primary that produced former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC flag bearer for the 2027 general election. The ruling was the result of a lawsuit (FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025) filed by former ADC National Deputy Chairman, Nafiu‑Bala Gombe. Gombe maintained that following the departure of the previous National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, constitutional provisions granted him the right to assume control of the party. He petitioned the judiciary to nullify every measure executed by the committee under Mark's direction and to stop Mark, National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, and their colleagues from claiming authority as the rightful heads. Justice Lifu granted the reliefs sought, stating that the Mark‑led caretaker committee had violated the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act. The judgment also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to remove Atiku’s name from the list of presidential candidates.

Background

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) was founded on 22 January 1995. In 2025, following the resignation of National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, a dispute arose over who should assume control of the party. Nafiu‑Bala Gombe, the National Deputy Chairman for the North‑East, claimed constitutional succession rights, while Senator David Mark and his team formed a caretaker committee that conducted a primary election. The electoral process selected former Vice‑President Atiku Abubakar to represent the party in the 2027 presidential race, pairing him with ex‑Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his vice‑presidential candidate. The court’s decision came just 24 hours after a massive ADC rally in Sokoto, where hundreds of thousands of supporters gathered to back the party’s campaign. Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, serving as the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, characterized the ruling as a frantic move to weaken the opposition and pointed to its timing as proof of the ruling All Progressives Congress’s (APC) anxiety.

Why it matters

The ruling has immediate implications for the 2027 general election. Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy, which had already been published by INEC, is now invalidated, and the ADC’s leadership structure is in limbo. The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, announced that the ADC would appeal the decision. The decision has also sparked widespread reactions on social media. Some Nigerians accused President Bola Tinubu of indirectly facilitating the court’s judgment, while others urged the President to allow the opposition to breathe. The ruling is seen as a major legal setback for the ADC, which was preparing to contest the upcoming elections.

What happens next

The ADC has indicated that it will appeal the judgment. No specific dates for the appeal have been announced. The court’s order requires INEC to remove Atiku’s name from the presidential candidate list, but the timeline for this action has not been disclosed. The ADC’s future leadership structure remains uncertain until the appeal is resolved.

The ruling also leaves the status of the ADC’s other candidates for the presidency, governorship, and other positions unclear, as the court declared all actions taken by the caretaker committee invalid. The party’s ability to field candidates in the 2027 election will depend on the outcome of the appeal and any subsequent legal proceedings.