ADC rejects Court ruling nullifying Atiku’s 2027 presidential candidacy, vows appeal

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the judgment of the Federal High Court in Abuja which nullified its leadership under former Senate President David Mark and invalidated the nomination of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as its presidential candidate for the 2027 general election.

The party described the ruling as unacceptable and announced plans to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal, insisting that its leadership and the processes through which its candidates emerged remain legitimate.

The court, presided over by Justice Peter Lifu, had on Thursday declared the Mark-led caretaker committee illegal and nullified all decisions taken by the disputed leadership, including the nomination of candidates for the 2027 elections.

The judgment followed a suit instituted by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former National Deputy Chairman (North-East) of the ADC, who challenged the process through which Mark and other officials assumed control of the party.

Gombe argued that following the resignation of former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, he was constitutionally entitled to assume leadership of the party.

READ ALSO; Court sacks David Mark-led ADC leadership, nullifies Atiku’s 2027 presidential candidacy

He also contended that the emergence of Mark as National Chairman and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola as National Secretary violated the ADC constitution and relevant provisions of the Electoral Act.

In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, the plaintiff sought to invalidate the actions of the Mark-led caretaker committee and restrain the disputed officials from parading themselves as national officers of the party.

Justice Lifu upheld the plaintiff’s arguments and granted the reliefs sought, effectively throwing the ADC’s leadership structure and preparations for the 2027 general election into uncertainty.

The ruling also invalidated Atiku’s emergence as the party’s presidential candidate, as well as other nominations made under the caretaker committee.

Atiku had already been listed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the ADC presidential candidate for the January 16, 2027 election. He had also selected former Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as his running mate.

However, the ADC has maintained that it would not accept the judgment as the final determination of the leadership dispute.

The party’s National Welfare Secretary, Nkemakolam Ukandu, who participated in the proceedings as an interested party, confirmed that the ADC would appeal the ruling.

The planned appeal is expected to determine the fate of the party’s leadership, its presidential ticket and other candidates ahead of the 2027 general election.