Court affirms David Mark as ADC National Chairman

The Federal High Court in Abuja has upheld the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under former Senate President David Mark, dismissing a lawsuit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide challenging the party’s leadership transition.

In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Musa Liman ruled that the case lacked merit, holding that it concerned the internal affairs of a political party and was therefore not a matter the court could entertain.

The court sustained the preliminary objections raised by the ADC, former National Chairman Ralph Nwosu, current National Chairman David Mark, and National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola.

Justice Liman found that Abejide failed to prove that his legal rights had been violated by the emergence of the party’s current leadership. The judge also ruled that the lawmaker did not first exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution procedures before approaching the court.

According to the court, disputes relating to the administration and leadership of political parties generally fall outside judicial intervention unless there is evidence of a breach of the law or infringement of a member’s legal rights.

On the substantive issues, the court held that the transfer of leadership from Nwosu to Mark complied with both the ADC Constitution and the Electoral Act.

Justice Liman further ruled that the stakeholders’ meeting held on July 2, 2025, followed by the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of July 29, 2025, formed part of the lawful process that produced Mark as National Chairman and Aregbesola as National Secretary.

The judge also noted that the NEC meeting was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), reinforcing the credibility of the exercise.

Consequently, the court declared that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola was valid and in full compliance with the party’s constitution as well as the Electoral Act.

As part of the judgment, Justice Liman ordered Abejide to pay N2 million in costs to each of the defendants. The court also awarded N10 million against the lawmaker’s counsel in accordance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.

Abejide had filed suit FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025 on February 15, seeking to nullify the leadership transition that saw David Mark and Aregbesola assume the positions of National Chairman and National Secretary, respectively.

The suit listed the ADC, Ralph Nwosu, David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and INEC as defendants.

Among his requests, Abejide urged the court to invalidate the July 2, 2025, handover ceremony held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, arguing that the appointments of Mark and Aregbesola violated the Electoral Act.

He also sought orders preventing both officials from acting in their capacities and asked the court to restrain INEC from recognising them as the party’s National Chairman and National Secretary.

However, Justice Liman dismissed all the claims and affirmed the legitimacy of the ADC’s current leadership.

The leadership transition within the ADC followed efforts by opposition politicians to reposition the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. David Mark emerged as National Chairman, while former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola assumed the office of National Secretary, developments that have generated political attention and legal disputes within the party.