The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) headed by former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit that sought to invalidate the party’s current leadership structure.
Delivering judgment, Justice Musa Liman held that the suit filed by Hon. Leke Abejide, a member of the House of Representatives representing Yagba Federal Constituency of Kogi State, lacked merit and could not be entertained by the court because it bordered on the internal affairs of a political party.
The judge ruled that the plaintiff failed to establish that his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the David Mark-led leadership. The court further held that Abejide did not exhaust the internal dispute resolution mechanisms provided by the ADC before instituting the legal action.
Justice Liman upheld the preliminary objections filed by the ADC, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, National Chairman David Mark and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola, resolving all the substantive issues raised in the suit in their favour.
The court also declared that the process through which David Mark emerged as National Chairman and Rauf Aregbesola became National Secretary complied with the provisions of the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.
According to the judgment, the stakeholders’ meeting held on July 2, 2025, where Ralph Nwosu formally handed over the party’s leadership, did not violate the party’s constitution.
The court noted that the meeting preceded the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025, which formally ratified the leadership changes under the supervision of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Justice Liman therefore dismissed all the reliefs sought by the plaintiff, effectively reaffirming the legitimacy of the David Mark-led National Working Committee ahead of preparations for the 2027 general elections.
As part of the ruling, the court awarded costs of ₦2 million against the plaintiff in favour of each of the defendants. The plaintiff’s counsel was also ordered to pay an additional ₦10 million as costs in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
The judgment is widely seen as a major legal victory for the ADC leadership, ending months of uncertainty over the party’s leadership and strengthening its position as it intensifies preparations for the 2027 elections.
