The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of David Mark as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), dismissing a suit challenging his emergence as lacking merit.
Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman upheld the appointments of Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary respectively, ruling that their emergence complied with the party’s constitution and relevant electoral laws.
The suit was filed by Leke Abejide, who sought to nullify the appointments and restrain both leaders from acting in their official capacities.
Justice Liman first upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, former national chairman Ralph Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola, holding that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the political party.
The judge further ruled that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the suit because he failed to demonstrate that any of his rights had been violated by the leadership transition. He also faulted the lawmaker for failing to exhaust the ADC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.
On the substantive issues, Justice Liman held that Nwosu’s handover of the party leadership to Mark did not breach the ADC constitution. He also found that the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting formed part of the process leading to the National Executive Council meeting of July 29, 2025, where Mark and Aregbesola formally emerged as party leaders in a process monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission.
The court consequently declared the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola valid and in compliance with the party’s constitution and the Electoral Act, 2026.
Justice Liman also imposed financial penalties, ordering Abejide to pay N2 million each to all the defendants. In addition, the court awarded N10 million in costs against Abejide’s counsel in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Abejide had filed the suit in February 2026, seeking to invalidate the leadership transition and prevent the electoral commission from recognising Mark and Aregbesola as the party’s national leaders. The court’s ruling effectively brings the legal challenge to an end while reinforcing the legitimacy of the current ADC leadership.
