Breaking: Court sacks Mark-led ADC NWC, nullifies Atiku’s candidacy

The Federal High Court in Abuja has delivered a devastating blow to the African Democratic Congress and its presidential candidate, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, nullifying the party’s entire leadership structure and invalidating every nomination it made for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the Senator David Mark-led Caretaker Committee illegal and voided all decisions taken by the party since July 27, 2025, ValidViewNetwork reports.

THE JUDGMENT

Justice Lifu upheld the case of Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which Mark and other members of the caretaker committee assumed control of the party following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe argued that under the party’s constitution, he was entitled to take over the leadership. He asked the court to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The court agreed.

Justice Lifu held that the emergence of the Mark-led leadership violated the ADC constitution, relevant provisions of the Electoral Act, and the 1999 Constitution.

He declared that INEC should not recognise or act on decisions taken at the party’s 99th National Executive Committee meeting of July 27, 2025.

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THE CONSEQUENCES

The ruling has sweeping implications. Speaking after the judgment, counsel for Gombe, Lukman Fagbemi (SAN), was unequivocal:

“All the actions taken by the ADC as a party since July 27 to date stand annulled”.

Another counsel, Luka Musa Haruna (SAN), confirmed the scale of the fallout: the judgment leaves the ADC without candidates for any elective position in the 2027 elections, from the presidency to the governorship, Senate, and House of Assembly.

Atiku’s name had earlier been published by INEC as a presidential candidate, and he had selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate. He held a campaign rally in Sokoto State barely 24 hours before the judgment.

THE LEGAL REALITY

The judgment is currently subsisting and binding.

Under Nigerian law, the mere filing of a notice of appeal does not operate as a stay of execution . This means that, as it stands, the ADC has no valid candidates for the 2027 elections.

However, the ADC has vowed to challenge the verdict at the appellate court. The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, said the judgment would be appealed.

For Atiku to legally halt the effect of the judgment while the appeal is heard, his legal team must apply for and obtain a Stay of Execution from the court .

This is a specific order that suspends the enforcement of a judgment pending the determination of an appeal.

Without a stay, the judgment remains in force. Atiku can continue to move around and speak, as the court did not issue an injunction restricting his physical movement or freedom of expression.

But his campaign is currently for a nomination that the law says is invalid.

WHY IT MATTERS

This is a political earthquake with a legal time bomb attached.

Atiku Abubakar has spent months building his campaign, touring the country, and presenting himself as the main opposition challenger to President Bola Tinubu.

Now, his candidacy has been wiped out—not by the electorate, not by his opponents, but by the internal contradictions of his own party.

The judgment exposes the fragility of the ADC’s leadership structure. The party allowed a caretaker committee to assume control, conduct a presidential primary, and nominate candidates for every elective office without resolving the underlying constitutional dispute over who had the right to lead.

The appeal has been promised. The legal battle is not over. But until a court of competent jurisdiction grants a stay of execution, Atiku Abubakar is not a valid presidential candidate. The campaign continues, but the law has spoken. ValidViewNetwork reports.