Court Removes David Mark-Led ADC Leadership, Quashes Atiku’s Ticket

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The position of Mr David Mark as the chairman of the opposition African Democratic Congress (ADC) has been nullified by a Federal High Court in Abuja.

Justice Peter Lifu reportedly delivered the judgment removing the former Senate President as ADC chairman on Thursday in a suit filed by a former National Deputy Chairman of the party for the North-East, Mr Nafiu Bala Gombe, in the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025.

The judge said all actions taken by the former lawmaker and his team were invalid, including the primary that produced former Vice President Mr Atiku Abubakar as the ADC candidate in the January 16, 2027, presidential election.

Mr Gombe had challenged the process through which Mr Mark-led leadership emerged, arguing that he was constitutionally entitled to assume the position of National Chairman following the resignation of the party’s former chairman, Mr Ralph Nwosu.

According to him, the emergence of Mr Mark as the National Chairman of the ADC, and Mr Rauf Aregbesola as the National Secretary, violated the ADC constitution and provisions of the Electoral Act.

He begged the court to remove them and void all their actions taken during their reign.

In today’s judgment, Justice Lifu, after granting the reliefs sought by Mr Gombe, invalidated all the actions of the Mr Mark-led team, which conducted the party’s presidential primary that produced Mr Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate.