The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has vowed to challenge the Federal High Court judgment that removed the Senator David Mark-led leadership of the party and nullified the emergence of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.
The opposition party described the ruling as a politically motivated move aimed at weakening its structure and undermining Nigerians’ democratic right to freely elect their leaders.
In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC linked the timing of the judgment to its recent presidential campaign rally in Sokoto State, which attracted a large crowd on November 4.
The party argued that the ruling, delivered barely a day after the rally, reflected what it called the ruling All Progressives Congress’ (APC) growing anxiety over the opposition's increasing political support.
According to the statement, the party believes the judgment may have been prepared long before its delivery, with the Sokoto rally serving as the immediate trigger.
The ADC expressed concern that the decision could affect not only its national leadership and presidential candidate but also thousands of its members seeking elective positions across the country in the 2027 elections.
It maintained that the dispute extended beyond the political interests of Mark and Atiku, insisting that the ruling threatened the constitutional rights of party members and Nigerians to participate in the democratic process.
The party also faulted the judgment on legal grounds, citing an earlier ruling delivered on July 2, 2026, by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
It said the earlier judgment had affirmed the legitimacy of the Mark-led National Working Committee and directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to recognise the leadership.
The ADC argued that a Federal High Court judge could not overturn or invalidate a subsisting decision delivered by another judge of the same jurisdiction.
While rejecting the latest ruling and its consequential orders, the party said it was awaiting the Certified True Copy of the judgment to determine its full implications before proceeding with further legal action.
The opposition party further accused the APC of attempting to use the judiciary to frustrate political competition, warning that actions capable of undermining democratic institutions could threaten the country's peace and stability.
It challenged the ruling party to face the electorate in a free and fair contest rather than seek to weaken its political opponents through the courts.
The ADC also appealed to the judiciary to uphold its independence and resist any attempt to use it to undermine democracy.
It urged its members nationwide to remain peaceful and law-abiding as the party explores all available legal channels to challenge the decision.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had, on Thursday, nullified the leadership of the ADC under Mark and declared the actions taken by the party's caretaker leadership invalid.
Justice Peter Lifu also voided the party's primary election that produced Atiku as its 2027 presidential candidate, ruling that the process was illegal.
The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman of the party representing the North-East, who challenged the leadership arrangement.
Atiku had earlier been listed by INEC as the ADC's presidential candidate and had selected former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
