The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a lawsuit challenging the party’s leadership transition. The ruling strengthens the ADC leadership ruling ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
Justice Musa Liman ruled on Thursday that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the ADC, describing the dispute as non-justiciable. The judge upheld preliminary objections filed by the ADC, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, leading to the dismissal of the case instituted by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide.
Justice Liman also held that Abejide failed to establish that his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the current leadership. The court further noted that the lawmaker did not exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism before approaching the court.
In the judgment, the court ruled that the transfer of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark complied with the ADC constitution and applicable electoral laws.
Justice Liman found that the stakeholders’ meeting held on July 2, 2025, was a legitimate precursor to the National Executive Council meeting conducted on July 29, 2025, where David Mark emerged as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola became national secretary. The court also noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission monitored the party’s National Executive Council meeting.
Based on those findings, the judge declared that the emergence of the current leadership was lawful and consistent with the party constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other relevant legal provisions. The ADC leadership ruling reinforces the legal standing of the party’s current leadership.
Justice Liman ordered Abejide to pay ₦2 million each to all defendants in the suit. The court also awarded an additional ₦10 million cost against Abejide’s counsel in line with provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Abejide had filed suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 on February 15, seeking to nullify the July 2, 2025, handover of the party’s leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola. He also asked the court to restrain both leaders from presenting themselves as ADC officials and sought an order preventing INEC from recognising them in those positions. The lawmaker argued that the leadership transition failed to comply with Section 82 of the Electoral Act and other legal requirements.
However, the Federal High Court rejected those claims, bringing the legal challenge to an end at the trial court level and providing further certainty over the party’s leadership as political activities for the 2027 elections intensify. The ADC leadership ruling is expected to influence the party’s preparations for the upcoming electoral cycle.
