Court Declares ADC Leadership Invalid, Affects 2027 Elections

On November 3, 2026, Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja ruled that the executive led by Senator David Mark of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) was illegal, nullifying its actions, including the nomination of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar as the party's presidential candidate for the 2027 general election. Atiku has selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

The judgment also jeopardizes the candidacies of 1,503 individuals contesting various positions under the ADC, which includes 28 governorship candidates and 108 senatorial hopefuls. The ruling stemmed from a suit filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who claimed he was entitled to lead the party after the resignation of former National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu.

Gombe's suit sought to invalidate the Mark-led leadership, citing violations of the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act. The judgment is anticipated to be appealed, potentially reaching the Supreme Court, following a previous Supreme Court ruling that restored the Mark-led leadership while directing the Federal High Court to resolve the substantive matter.