- The Federal High Court in Abuja has formally dismissed a suit challenging the transition of power within the African Democratic Congress (ADC), legally cementing former Senate President David Mark as the National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary.
- In a stern warning against frivolous political litigation, Justice Musa Liman fined the plaintiff, Leke Abejide, N2 million in favor of each defendant, and ordered his legal counsel to pay N10 million in costs under the Electoral Act, 2026.
- Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the ADC leadership hailed the judgment as a triumph for the rule of law, asserting that the ruling effectively frustrates state-sponsored attempts to destabilize the opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has firmly validated the leadership of the African Democratic Congress under the former Senate President, Senator David Mark.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the definitive ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice Musa Liman, effectively dismissed a contentious legal challenge aimed at unseating the party’s current National Working Committee.
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The development has sent shockwaves through the political sphere, prompting a swift and resolute reaction from the party’s presidential stalwart, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who declared that the judgment has cleared the path for his relentless pursuit of the presidency in 2027.
The legal battle, which had threatened to fracture the cohesion of the leading coalition platform, was initiated by a member of the House of Representatives, Leke Abejide.
In his suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025, Abejide sought to nullify the historic leadership transition that took place in July 2025, during which the long-standing National Chairman, Ralph Nwosu, handed over the reins of the party to Senator David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary.
The plaintiff had argued that the process violated the internal constitution of the African Democratic Congress and ran afoul of the provisions of the Electoral Act.
He requested the court to restrain the Mark-led executive from parading themselves as leaders and to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission to withhold recognition from them.
However, in a comprehensive judgment that heavily penalized the plaintiffs, Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections raised by the defense.
The presiding judge ruled that the Federal High Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter, stating clearly that the selection and emergence of political party executives constitute an internal affair that remains strictly non-justiciable.
Justice Liman went further to establish that Abejide lacked the legal standing, or locus standi, to bring the action before the court, as he failed to demonstrate how his personal rights were infringed upon by the transition of power.
Furthermore, the court noted that the lawmaker had bypassed the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms, choosing instead to embark on what critics termed judicial adventurism.
With clear resolution, the court decided all substantive issues in favor of the defendants, affirming that the stakeholders’ meeting on July 2, 2025, and the subsequent National Executive Committee meeting on July 29, 2025, fully complied with both the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
In a stern warning against the filing of frivolous political litigations, Justice Liman slammed a heavy fine of N2 million each against Abejide in favor of the defendants, while ordering the lawmaker’s legal counsel to forfeit N10 million in costs under the strict anti-frivolity provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Reacting to the judgment with profound optimism, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar spoke through his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu. Atiku lauded the judiciary for its unwavering courage and its refusal to be manipulated into an extension of partisan warfare by desperate elements operating within the corridors of power.
He emphasized that the verdict stands as a monumental victory for constitutional democracy and a severe blow to those who seek to destabilize the opposition ahead of the crucial 2027 polls.
Atiku reiterated his absolute commitment to providing a credible alternative for millions of Nigerians suffering under the current economic realities, asserting that the David Mark-led leadership emerged through a transparent, lawful process that cannot be overturned by forum shopping.
Echoing these sentiments, Senator David Mark expressed immense vindication, describing the ruling as a major milestone for the rule of law. Through his media advisor, Kola Ologbondiyan, the former Senate President remarked that democracy can only flourish when opposition institutions are allowed to operate free from state-sponsored intimidation or internal subversion.
QSimilarly, the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, extended gratitude to the judiciary, expressing hope that the severe financial penalties would deter future attempts at judicial manipulation.
Abdullahi noted that with the legal distractions set aside, the African Democratic Congress will now channel its entire energy into addressing the pressing national crises of rising unemployment, inflation, and insecurity, cementing its position as the ultimate platform for democratic change in 2027.
