10 important points about Justice Lifu's ruling on ADC and Atiku

The political scene in Nigeria is shaking again after the Federal High Court gave a ruling by Justice Peter Lifu. This judgment has cancelled the leadership of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) led by Senator David Mark and also took away Atiku Abubakar’s chance to run for president in the 2027 elections.

Here are 10 important points to understand about the ruling, what led to it, and the political fights behind it.

1. The Main Ruling and Immediate Effects
Justice Peter Lifu’s decision has voided the leadership of the Senator David Mark-led National Working Committee (NWC) of the ADC. The court also cancelled the primary elections held under their leadership, which means Atiku Abubakar lost his chance to be the presidential candidate for the 2027 elections and other candidates from the party also lost their nominations.

2. Triggered by the North-East Leadership Dispute
The legal fight against the leadership of Mark started with a case marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025. This case was filed by Nafiu Bala Gombe, who is the former ADC National Deputy Chairman for the North-East. Gombe questioned how the new leadership came to power after the former National Chairman, Chief Ralph Nwosu, resigned.

3. The “Haphazard” Takeover by Atiku’s Group
The trouble started with a sudden political shift that brought the Atiku group into the ADC. Critics and unhappy party members called this move a “haphazard takeover.” They claimed that big players took control of the party quickly, ignored the internal processes, and left out those who built the party over the years.

4. The Intense Battle for Party Control
This takeover led to a fierce struggle for control of the ADC. Leaders from different factions and unhappy members, like Nafiu Bala Gombe, argued that bringing in Senator David Mark, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola (as National Secretary), and other caretaker committee members broke the party’s rules and the Electoral Act. This internal conflict turned into a bitter fight over who truly controlled the party.

5. Rising Legal Issues to the Supreme Court
As the fight for control heated up, factions rushed to the courts, leading to many temporary orders, counter-orders, and appeals. These legal disputes moved quickly through the court system and eventually reached the Supreme Court as groups sought temporary legitimacy or tried to block their opponents from managing the party.

6. The Trial Court Remand Order
Earlier in this long legal battle, reviews and legal decisions led to orders sending parties back to the trial court. Instead of resolving the main issues immediately, higher courts sent the case back to the Federal High Court for a proper trial and to address the main claims about leadership rights and compliance with the rules.

7. Yesterday’s Ruling and Findings on Violations
Following the court’s process, Justice Lifu ruled in favor of the plaintiff. The court found that the formation of the Mark-led NWC broke both the ADC’s rules and the Electoral Act. Therefore, all actions, meetings, and primary elections held during their leadership are legally invalid.

8. Atiku and ADC’s Strong Rejection
Atiku Abubakar reacted quickly to the ruling. Through his campaign group, he condemned the judgment and called it a desperate move by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to weaken the opposition. The ADC also rejected the ruling, saying it was legally wrong and an attack on multi-party democracy in Nigeria. Atiku, however, did not address the undemocratic actions he and his group took that led to this crisis.

9. Cheers from the Opposing Faction
On the other side, the faction loyal to Nafiu Bala Gombe celebrated Justice Lifu’s ruling as a win for the rule of law. Supporters argued that political parties should respect their internal rules and that leadership should come through fair and lawful processes, not imposition.

10. Next Legal Steps: Appeal Court
The legal battle is not over yet. Members of the ADC and affected groups have said they will challenge the recent ruling at the Court of Appeal. With the 2027 general elections approaching, the legal status of the party’s leadership and its presidential candidate remains uncertain. This sets the stage for another major legal fight.

In the end, the Atiku camp is largely responsible for the ADC’s current problems. By disregarding the party’s internal democracy and taking control of its leadership without following due process, they created division and legal issues. They have no one to blame but themselves for the party’s current challenges.