Court affirms David Mark’s led leadership of ADC

The Federal High Court in Abuja has affirmed the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a suit challenging the emergence of the party’s current executives.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, July 2, Justice Musa Liman held that the suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide lacked merit and upheld the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, its former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, David Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola.

The court ruled that it lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the political party, describing the matter as non-justiciable.

Justice Liman further held that Abejide lacked the legal standing to institute the action because he failed to demonstrate that any of his rights had been violated by the emergence of the Mark-led leadership. The judge also found that the lawmaker did not exhaust the ADC’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the court.

On the substantive issues, the court ruled in favour of the defendants, holding that the process through which Mark emerged as national chairman and Aregbesola as national secretary complied with the party’s constitution, the Electoral Act 2026 and other applicable laws. Justice Liman held that former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu’s handover of the party’s leadership to Mark did not violate the ADC constitution.

The court also recognised the July 2, 2025 stakeholders’ meeting as a legitimate precursor to the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on July 29, 2025, during which Mark and Aregbesola formally emerged as the party’s leaders. The judge noted that the NEC meeting was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Consequently, the court declared the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola valid and in compliance with the law. Justice Liman also awarded costs of N2 million each in favour of all the defendants, directing Abejide to pay the sums.

In addition, the court imposed a N10 million cost against Abejide’s lawyer in line with the provisions of the Electoral Act 2026. Abejide had filed the suit seeking to nullify the July 2, 2025 transfer of the party’s leadership from Nwosu to Mark and Aregbesola, arguing that the process was unlawful.

He also sought perpetual injunctions restraining Mark and Aregbesola from presenting themselves as the party’s leaders and preventing INEC from recognising them in those capacities, alleging that their emergence did not comply with the requirements of the Electoral Act.