In a political earthquake just months to the polls, a Federal High Court in Abuja has torn up the entire leadership structure of the ADC, and with it, Atiku Abubakar’s presidential candidacy.

Here's what just happened

So, drama in Abuja today. Justice Peter Lifu of the Federal High Court has sacked the Senator David Mark-led executive of the African Democratic Congress, the ADC.

And that one ruling has a domino effect. The court says every single thing that caretaker committee did is invalid, including the presidential primary that produced former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s flagbearer for 2027.

As reported by cbinews.tv, Atiku’s name had already been published by INEC as a candidate, with former Rivers Governor Rotimi Amaechi named as his running mate. That ticket is now voided by this judgment.

Who took them to court? Nafiu Bala Gombe, the party’s former National Deputy Chairman (North-East). His argument was simple and very human: when National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu resigned, he, Gombe, as deputy, should have taken over, not a caretaker committee brought in from outside.

Gombe filed suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025 against the ADC, INEC, Senator Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and Chief Nwosu, asking the court to stop Mark and Aregbesola from parading themselves as Chairman and Secretary.

Justice Lifu agreed with him. In full.

This isn't just internal party squabble. The ADC has been positioning itself as the third-force coalition for 2027, absorbing big names from PDP and APC. If its leadership is illegal, every nomination, every alliance, every INEC filing built on it collapses. With the presidential election slated for 16 January 2027, time is not on their side.

Under the Electoral Act and most party constitutions in Nigeria, when a chairman resigns, the deputy assumes leadership in an acting capacity until a convention. A caretaker committee can only be formed through due constitutional process. The court found the Mark-led committee failed that test. Therefore, actions taken under it, including primaries, are null and void.

We’ve seen this script before. From the PDP leadership tussles of Sheriff vs Makarfi to the APC Oshiomhole saga, Nigerian courts have repeatedly become the final arbiter of who owns a party. And almost always, the INEC-published candidate list is not final until the courts have spoken.

For context: David Mark is a former Senate President (2007-2015) and one of PDP’s most senior figures before defecting to the ADC coalition. Atiku Abubakar, 79, is making what many see as his final run for the presidency after contesting in 1993, 2007, 2019 and 2023.

The ADC is not backing down. National Welfare Secretary Nkemakolam Ukandu, who joined as an interested party, told cbinews.tv the party will appeal immediately.

So what next?

ADC heads to the Court of Appeal to seek a stay of execution.

INEC will await the final appellate decision before delisting Atiku.

If the appeal fails, the ADC will have to reconstitute its leadership properly and conduct a fresh primary.

Watch this space — 2027 just got spicier.

Source: cbinews.tv

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