A Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark, effectively invalidating former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. The court ruling, delivered by Justice Peter Lifu, declared the leadership null and void, citing procedural irregularities in the internal party elections. The decision has sparked immediate reactions from both supporters and critics of the ruling.
The court’s judgment has led to the invalidation of all actions taken by the Mark-led ADC executive committee, including the formal nomination of Atiku as the party’s presidential candidate. This has left the ADC without an official candidate for the upcoming elections, creating a significant political vacuum. Kola Ologbondiyan, the ADC’s Director of Media and Publicity, has criticized the ruling, calling it “useless” and claiming it cannot stop the party’s campaign.
The ruling has also drawn accusations of political bias. Bala, the ADC’s factional chair, praised the court for basing its decision on constitutional and statutory grounds rather than political influence. However, the ruling has been condemned by the opposition, with the ADC accusing the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of using the judiciary to weaken opposition parties.
The court’s decision follows a series of internal party disputes within the ADC, which has been a key opposition party in Nigerian politics. The invalidation of Atiku’s candidacy has raised concerns about the stability of the party and the potential impact on the 2027 elections. The ADC is now expected to appeal the ruling, which could delay the selection of a new candidate and further complicate the political landscape ahead of the elections.
