By Samuel Olusegun Precious
The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday affirmed Senator David Mark as National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, and dismissed a suit challenging his leadership.
Court Dismisses Suit, Awards Fines
Justice Musa Liman Lifu dismissed the suit filed by Rep. Leke Abejide, who challenged Mark and Rauf Aregbesola as national chairman and national secretary of the party. The judge held the suit lacked merit.Justice Liman upheld preliminary objections by ADC, Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark and Aregbesola, ruling that the court lacked jurisdiction over the party’s internal affairs. He said the matter was non-justiciable.
The judge also held that Abejide lacked legal standing, having failed to show his rights were violated. He said Abejide did not explore the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanism.The court awarded a fine of N2 million in favour of each defendant, to be paid by Abejide. It also awarded a N10 million fine against Abejide’s lawyer, in line with the Electoral Act, 2026.
Judgment on ADC Leadership Process
Justice Liman resolved all three issues in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants. He held that Mark and Aregbesola emerged in compliance with the law. The judge said Nwosu’s handover to Mark on July 2, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre did not violate the party’s constitution. He agreed the July 2 meeting was a stakeholder meeting that preceded the NEC meeting of July 29, 2025, which produced Mark and Aregbesola.
The NEC meeting was monitored by INEC.The court therefore declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola was valid under the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and party law.
Background of the Suit
Abejide, in suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 filed Feb. 15, 2026, sued ADC, Nwosu, Mark, Aregbesola and INEC as 1st to 5th defendants.He sought to nullify Nwosu’s handover to Mark and Aregbesola, and to restrain them from parading themselves as leaders. He also sought to restrain INEC from recognising them.
