The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday upheld the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) under David Mark.
Delivering judgment, Justice Musa Liman dismissed a suit filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, who had challenged the emergence of Mark as national chairman and Rauf Aregbesola as national secretary of the party. The court held that the case lacked merit.
Justice Liman also upheld preliminary objections raised by ADC, its former chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu, Mark, and Aregbesola, ruling that the suit was not justiciable.
The judge held that the court lacked jurisdiction to interfere in the internal affairs of the ADC, describing the matter as an internal party dispute. He further ruled that Abejide had no legal standing to institute the case, as he failed to demonstrate any violation of his rights arising from the emergence of the new leadership.
According to the court, Abejide also failed to exhaust the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms before approaching the judiciary.
Justice Liman resolved all issues in the substantive suit in favour of the defendants, holding that the emergence of Mark and Aregbesola complied with the relevant laws and the ADC constitution.
He ruled that the transfer of leadership from Ralph Nwosu to David Mark did not violate the party’s constitution, and affirmed that the July 2, 2025 meeting which preceded the National Executive Committee (NEC) session of July 29, 2025 was a valid stakeholder gathering. The NEC meeting, which was monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), produced Mark and Aregbesola as party leaders.
The court consequently declared that the leadership of Mark and Aregbesola was valid under the ADC constitution, the Electoral Act, 2026, and party regulations.
Justice Liman also ordered Abejide to pay a fine of N2 million to each of the defendants, while his lawyer was fined N10 million in line with provisions of the Electoral Act, 2026.
Recall that Abejide had sought to nullify the alleged handover of ADC leadership to Mark and Aregbesola at a meeting held on July 2, 2025 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, arguing that it was unlawful.
He also sought a perpetual injunction restraining them from parading themselves as party leaders, as well as an order stopping INEC from recognising their leadership.
