The Federal High Court in Abuja Thursday morning sacked the Senator David Mark-led executives of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), thereby voiding the presidential ticket given to former vice president, Mr. Atiku Abubakar, and all actions they took on behalf of the party.
Atiku, whose name was earlier published by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as a candidate for the presidential poll, has since chosen a former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, as his running mate.
But Justice Peter Lifu, in a decision that will send shock waves across political Nigeria, held as illegal the Senator Mark-led Caretaker Committee of the ADC, which organised the primary election that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential flag bearer.
The Judge found merit in a suit brought before it by the aggrieved former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the party, Nafiu Bala Gombe.
Gombe had approached the court to query the process through which the Senator Mark-led Committee took over the reins of leadership of the party.
He maintained that, with the resignation of the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, he (Gombe) was qualified to assume the party’s leadership.
Consequently, he, among other things, prayed the court to nullify all actions taken on behalf of the party by the Senator Mark-led leadership.
Listed as defendants in the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, were the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Ralph Nwosu.
The plaintiff further urged the court to restrain Senator Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as National Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the ADC, insisting that their emergence violated the party’s constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The court upheld the plaintiff’s claim and granted his reliefs, a verdict that could spark a chain of reactions in the polity, with the presidential election scheduled for January 16, 2027.
The ADC has already vowed to appeal the judgment, while Atiku had yet to respond to the judgement as at the time of filing this report.
More to follow…
This is no more politic, it has turn to political witch hunting 🙄🙄 but, why now?. Judiciary has joined the politicians to destroy democracy in the land. 🫢🫢🫢