The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of former Senate President David Mark as national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The court also dismissed a lawsuit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide.
Justice Musa Liman delivered the judgment on Thursday. He upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola.
The judge ruled that the court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. He said the dispute involved the internal affairs of a political party. Such matters are generally not justiciable.
Justice Liman also ruled that Abejide lacked the legal standing to file the suit. According to the court, he failed to show how the party’s leadership change violated his rights.
The judge further noted that Abejide did not exhaust the ADC’s internal dispute resolution process before approaching the court.
The court resolved all the substantive issues in favour of the defendants.
On the leadership transition, Justice Liman held that Ralph Nwosu acted within the party’s constitution. He ruled that the handover to David Mark did not violate any constitutional provision.
The court explained that the stakeholders’ meeting of July 2, 2025, came before the National Executive Committee meeting held on July 29, 2025.
During the NEC meeting, party members formally confirmed David Mark as national chairman. They also confirmed Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary. Officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) supervised the process.
Justice Liman ruled that the emergence of the new leadership complied with both the ADC constitution and the Electoral Act 2026.
The court awarded N2 million in costs to each of the defendants. The judge also ordered Abejide’s counsel to pay an additional N10 million under the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026.
Abejide filed the suit on February 15. The case was marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.
He asked the court to nullify the July 2, 2025, leadership handover. He also sought an order stopping David Mark and Rauf Aregbesola from acting as the party’s national chairman and national secretary.
In addition, Abejide asked the court to stop INEC from recognising the current ADC leadership. He argued that their emergence did not comply with the party’s constitution or the Electoral Act.
With this judgment, the court has confirmed the legitimacy of the party’s leadership. The ruling also brings the legal challenge against the David Mark ADC chairman leadership to a close.
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