ADC rejects court ruling that removed Mark and Atiku, blames APC

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has rejected the Federal High Court ruling that removed its leadership led by David Mark and invalidated Atiku Abubakar’s presidential nomination.

The opposition party accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of trying to block it from participating in the 2027 elections.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, the ADC said it will challenge the ruling made by Justice Peter Lifu in Abuja.

The party claimed that the ruling was planned before Thursday and that it was rushed because of the large crowd at Atiku’s campaign launch in Sokoto on Wednesday.

“We have reasons to believe that the judgement had long been written on this case. The Sokoto rally was simply a trigger that stampeded its delivery,” the statement said.

The ADC did not provide any proof linking the APC to the ruling or showing that the rally influenced its timing.

The party warned the APC against what it called attempts to use the courts to keep political opponents away.

“We warn the APC: do not play with fires you cannot control. The peace and stability of Nigeria are bigger than the ambition of any president or political party,” it said.

The APC had not responded to the allegations at the time of writing.

Justice Lifu gave the ruling in a case brought by Nafiu Bala Gombe, a former ADC National Deputy Chairman (North-East), who questioned how Mr Mark and former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola became the party’s national chairman and secretary.

According to Channels Television, the court invalidated decisions made by the disputed leadership, including the presidential primary that produced Atiku.

The ADC said it is waiting for the Certified True Copy of the judgement to see what the judge actually ordered.

The party based its objection on a previous ruling from 2 July, given by Justice Musa Liman of the Federal High Court in case FHC/ABJ/CS/1637/2025.

This case was filed by House of Representatives member Leke Abejide, who challenged how Messrs Mark and Aregbesola got into office.

Justice Liman dismissed the case. According to Channels Television’s report, the court supported the leadership transition.

Mr Abdullahi argued that Justice Lifu’s ruling goes against the earlier judgement.

“It is a settled principle of Nigerian jurisprudence that a court of coordinate jurisdiction cannot sit on appeal over, review, vary or nullify the subsisting judgement of another court of equal jurisdiction,” the ADC said.

The two cases were filed by different claimants.

The ADC said it will challenge Thursday’s ruling but did not confirm if it had filed an appeal or sought a stay of execution.

Mr Gombe’s case, FHC/ABJ/CS/1819/2025, came from the ADC leadership change after the exit of former national chairman Ralph Nwosu.

He argued that as deputy national chairman, he should succeed Mr Nwosu and asked the court to stop Messrs Mark and Aregbesola from acting as the party’s national chairman and secretary.