The political challenges facing former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar have deepened following a fresh Federal High Court judgment invalidating the leadership of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, led by former Senate President, David Mark.
The judgment, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja, also nullified decisions taken by the Mark-led National Working Committee, including the process that produced Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
The ruling followed a suit instituted by former ADC Deputy National Chairman, Nafiu Bala Gombe, who challenged the emergence of the Mark-led leadership, arguing that the party’s leadership vacancies should have been filled through democratic elections.
The court ruled that the process through which Mark and former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, emerged as National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, did not comply with the party’s constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.
Justice Lifu also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, not to recognise decisions taken by the disputed National Working Committee.
Reacting to the development, Atiku vowed to challenge the judgment at the Court of Appeal, describing it as an attempt to weaken the opposition and frustrate his presidential ambition.
The ADC also rejected the ruling, insisting that the judgment was inconsistent with an earlier court decision which it said had recognised the legitimacy of the Mark-led leadership.
Meanwhile, Nafiu Bala Gombe welcomed the judgment and called on Atiku and David Mark to register as members of the ADC in their respective wards before participating in the party’s activities.
The party’s leadership crisis has also generated protests and petitions by some of its candidates, who have appealed to the judiciary and international organisations over the development.
The candidates expressed concern that the delay in releasing the Certified True Copy of the judgment could affect their ability to appeal the decision.
They also urged relevant institutions to respect due process and allow the party to exercise its constitutional right of appeal.
INEC, however, said it would not take any action on the judgment until it had obtained and examined the Certified True Copy, adding that its legal department would review the document before the commission decides on its next steps.
The latest development has thrown the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections into further uncertainty, particularly regarding its leadership structure and the validity of candidates nominated under the Mark-led leadership.
