Federal High Court in Abuja declares David Mark-led ADC caretaker committee illegal, invalidates its decisions and throws the party’s presidential nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar into uncertainty.

The Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership arrangement that brought former Senate President David Mark and his associates into control of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), declaring the party’s caretaker committee illegal.

The ruling has also invalidated decisions taken by the disputed committee, including the process that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the ADC’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Justice Peter Lifu delivered the judgment on Thursday, November 5, 2026, holding that the process through which the Mark-led leadership assumed control of the opposition party was unlawful.

The judgment followed a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, the ADC’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who challenged the legitimacy of the party’s leadership structure under Mark.

Gombe had approached the court, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party following the resignation of its former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu.

He maintained that the emergence of the Mark-led caretaker committee was not in accordance with the party’s constitution and consequently asked the court to declare the arrangement illegal.

The former deputy chairman also sought an order invalidating all decisions and actions taken by the disputed leadership on behalf of the ADC.

In his ruling, Justice Lifu found merit in Gombe’s arguments and declared the caretaker committee unlawful, effectively stripping its decisions of legal validity.

Among the affected decisions is the ADC presidential nomination process, which produced Atiku Abubakar as the party’s flag bearer ahead of the 2027 presidential election.

The development represents a major setback for the ADC and raises fresh questions about the party’s leadership, internal stability and preparations for the next general elections.

It also throws Atiku’s presidential ambition under the ADC platform into uncertainty, as the party faces the challenge of resolving its leadership crisis and determining the legal status of its previous political decisions.

The ruling comes at a critical time for the opposition party, which has been positioning itself as a major platform for political opposition ahead of the 2027 elections.

.

.

.

For news placements, adverts and other sponsorship, contact Daily Observer on: ( dailyobservermedia@gmail.com or +2348162850062 )