Atiku’s 2027 Presidential Ticket in Jeopardy as Court Nullifies David Mark-Led ADC Leadership

The Federal High Court in Abuja has reportedly nullified the leadership structure of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, in a ruling that could affect the party’s presidential ticket for the 2027 general elections.

The judgment, delivered on Thursday by Justice Peter Lifu, followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former Deputy National Chairman of the party, who challenged the legitimacy of the leadership arrangement that brought Mark and former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, into the party’s leadership.

The plaintiff had argued that following the resignation of the ADC’s former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume the position of National Chairman.

Gombe consequently approached the court seeking to invalidate decisions taken by the Mark-led leadership and restrain Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

He maintained that their emergence violated provisions of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act.

In its ruling, the court reportedly upheld the plaintiff’s claims and granted the reliefs sought, effectively invalidating the authority of the Mark-led Caretaker Committee and decisions taken under its leadership.

The development has thrown the status of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s presidential candidacy into uncertainty, as the committee was responsible for organising the party’s presidential primary that produced him as its flag bearer.

Atiku had earlier been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC’s presidential candidate and subsequently selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate for the 2027 election.

The suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, listed the ADC, INEC, Senator David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu as defendants.

ADC Moves to Appeal

Reacting to the judgment, the ADC indicated that it would challenge the decision at the appellate court.

The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who was subsequently joined as an interested party in the case, confirmed that the party would appeal the ruling.

The judgment comes barely 24 hours after Atiku participated in a campaign rally in Sokoto State as part of his political activities ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The ruling is expected to trigger fresh legal and political developments within the opposition party, particularly over the validity of its leadership structure, presidential primary and other decisions taken by the disputed caretaker committee.