Justice Peter Odo Lifu of the Federal High Court in Abuja has nullified the processes of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) that led to the emergence of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.
In a judgment delivered on Thursday, Justice Lifu also nullified the emergence of former Senate President David Mark, Rauf Aregbesola and other officials as national officers of the ADC.
The court further cancelled the nominations of all candidates presented by the party for the 2027 general elections, ruling that their nominations emerged from what it described as an illegal and unlawful leadership structure of the party.
Justice Lifu upheld the case brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a Deputy National Chairman of the ADC, who challenged the emergence of Mark, Aregbesola and other members of the party’s leadership.
The judge held that the process through which Mark and Aregbesola emerged as leaders of the ADC was unlawful and illegal.
Consequently, the court ruled that actions taken by the David Mark-led leadership in the name of the ADC were unlawful and nullified them.
The judgment could have significant implications for the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 general elections, including the validity of its presidential and other candidates’ nominations.
Further details of the judgment are expected.