The Forum of 19 Northern State Chairmen of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vehemently rejected the Federal High Court judgment that nullified the David Mark-led national leadership and voided the party’s 2027 presidential ticket.
The forum announced that it is heading to the Court of Appeal and filing a formal petition against the presiding judge before the National Judicial Council (NJC).
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In a joint statement issued in response to the November 5 ruling by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, the northern chairmen faulted the verdict as a direct contradiction of an earlier judgment delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the same court. They argued that Justice Liman’s ruling had previously validated the transition of leadership from founder Ralph Nwosu to the National Working Committee (NWC) headed by David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola.
Key Contentions of the Forum:
- Judicial Conflict: The chairmen argued that Justice Lifu’s decision violated judicial precedent by attempting to overrule a subsisting judgment delivered by a court of coordinate jurisdiction.
- Locus Standi: The forum questioned the standing of the plaintiff, Bala Gombe, pointing out that he had earlier resigned from the party’s leadership and participated in dissolving the former National Executive Committee.
- Denial of Fair Hearing: They alleged that the court dismissed 27 preliminary objections and joinder applications without granting a proper hearing, and unlawfully nullified candidates’ nominations—including Atiku Abubakar’s presidential ticket—without joining the affected individuals in the suit.
The forum accused external political interests and the ruling party of attempting to manipulate judicial processes to weaken the opposition and destabilize Nigeria’s multi-party democracy. Meanwhile, the party’s legal team has filed notices of appeal, alongside applications for a stay of execution, urging members to stay calm while legal remedies are pursued.